BOISE, Idaho – A 3-year-old girl who was stabbed at a birthday party in a Boise, Idaho, apartment complex has died from her injuries, the Boise Police Department said.
The Idaho Statesman said the party was for the unidentified 3-year-old, who was flown to a hospital in Salt Lake City. She was one of nine people injured in the stabbing, including six children. Of the remaining eight victims, one child was treated and released from the hospital, and seven others are still in the hospital, many with serious or critical injuries, Boise police said.
The suspect in the stabbing, Timmy Kinner, was being arraigned at Ada County Courthouse.
Kinner is accused of attacking the birthday party because he wanted revenge for being kicked out of the complex, Boise Police Chief William Bones said Sunday. The complex houses refugees, and the victims include refugees from Syria, Iraq and Ethiopia.
Kinner has been charged with nine counts of aggravated battery and six counts of injury to a child, Bones said. The charges against him may be amended as a result of the child’s death, police said.
Six of the victims are between 3 and 12 years old. They were “some of the newest members of our community,” Bones said.
Kinner is not a refugee and is from Los Angeles, police said. Police said an unnamed resident was allowing Kinner to stay there, but asked him to leave because of “his behavior.”
“As you can imagine, the witnesses in the apartment complex — along with the rest of our community — are reeling from this attack,” the police chief said.
“This incident is not a representation of our community, but a single evil individual who attacked people without provocation that we are aware of at this time.”
Police said there is no indication the stabbing was a hate crime. The FBI is assisting with the investigation.
“Last night’s horrific attack does not represent Boise,” Mayor Dave Bieter tweeted. “Please join me in praying for the injured and their families. We must come together to condemn this vile act.”
An official from the International Rescue Committee praised Boise for its support of refugees.
“It is heartbreaking that adults and children who fled the horror of war and conflict to find safety in America had to experience violence all over again,” Hans Van de Weerd, vice president of US programs, said in a statement.
Victims were in parking lot and apartments
Police responded to a call of a man with a knife at 8:46 p.m. and arrived at the apartment complex four minutes later, Bones said.
“Officers located the suspect almost immediately, took the suspect into custody at gunpoint,” he said.
Police found the victims in apartments and the parking lot.
“You can imagine this is a very tight-knit community here in this apartment complex,” Bones said Saturday night.
“We haven’t had anything involving this amount of victims in a single attack in Boise in the history of the department,” he said. “Obviously, it’s something you hope never comes to your city.”