- Peter Michael Larsen, 48, of Taylorsville, Utah, was charged with two counts of attempted aggravated murder and one count of prohibited dangerous weapon conduct after authorities alleged he repeatedly stabbed a Muslim employee at Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City on July 13. According to court documents, Larsen targeted the victim because of his religion.
- Prosecutors said Larsen approached the victim at a mall kiosk, asked about his religion, then attacked him with a knife, inflicting more than 15 stab wounds before bystanders intervened, disarmed the suspect and restrained him until police arrived. The victim survived but suffered critical injuries requiring extensive medical treatment.
- According to court documents, Larsen told police he had planned the attack the night before to “make an example” of Muslims and become a catalyst to rid the country of what he described as an “infestation.” He allegedly said he intended to decapitate the victim, throw his head through the mall as a warning, eat his heart “in a dramatic fashion,” and kill as many Muslims at the mall as possible to inspire others. Prosecutors have asked that the case be treated as a hate crime if he is convicted.
Anti-Muslim