Man admits to targeting elderly victims by race in Tempe community center attack, court documents show

TEMPE, Ariz. — A man who attacked a group of mostly elderly people inside a Tempe community center admitted to police he was targeting white and Mexican victims, according to newly filed court documents.

The assault at the Escalante Multi-Generational Center on Wednesday left several victims with serious injuries, including broken bones.

Derek Kirven, 62, walked into a members-only area around 9 a.m. and was asked to leave because he was not a member, according to Tempe police.

“He tried to come in, and he was told to leave because he was not a member, and then around 11:30 a.m., he came back,” said Officer Jessica Ells, public information officer for the Tempe Police Department.

Police said that’s when Kirven snapped and began attacking people, many of whom were seated and waiting for lunch.

“At that point, he essentially lost control and began attacking all the members that were inside the center,” Ells said. “He started to assault these people by punching them, throwing them to the ground.”

Among the victims, one person suffered a broken wrist, another was left with a broken nose, court documents show. A third victim, who is autistic and suffers from seizures, was punched and knocked to the ground.

Some victims were using walkers and had no way to defend themselves during the attack, police said.

A fourth victim’s hearing aid, valued at $4,000, was damaged. That victim expressed concern that the assault may have aggravated a previous open-heart surgery.

During an interview with police, Kirven said he felt staff asked him to leave because he is Black, according to court documents.

He told detectives he intentionally targeted white and Mexican people and said he hoped more than one of them would die from their injuries, court documents show.

Court documents also state Kirven told police he would assault people again if given the chance.

Earlier Wednesday morning, staff had offered Kirven a membership, but he did not have identification, according to police reports.

Kirven was eventually detained by a city of Tempe security guard until police arrived.

“It seems that he was upset that he was not allowed to be there,” Ells said.

Kirven has an extensive criminal history in Arizona and New Mexico, court documents show. Several years ago, he served time in New Mexico’s prison system for aggravated battery.

Records show Kirven is a transient with felony convictions across multiple states, including kidnapping and aggravated battery. He had two outstanding warrants at the time of his arrest.

He is now in the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and is being held on $500,000 bond.

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