The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is reacting to the brutal mass stabbing at a Boise apartment complex Saturday night that sent nine victims to the hospital with serious injuries. Boise Police say the victims included members of Boise's refugee community and six children. All of the victims are from Syria, Iraq or Ethiopia.
According to police Kinner attacked a child's birthday party stabbing multiple victims. The victims include a 3-year-old, two 4-year-olds, a 6-year-old, 8-year old, 12-year old and three adults.
"We are shocked and saddened by this senseless attack on members of the Boise refugee community," Executive Director Julianne D. Tzul said. "The IRC is working with local partners in Boise to provide counseling and support to refugees and other members of the community shaken by this incident."
"We are also supporting families to find and pay for temporary housing, providing travel logistics for those needing medical care out of state, and encourage families needing other help, or afraid for their safety, to reach out at the apartment building where we are this afternoon, or come to IRC office," Tzul said.
The IRC also expressed thanks to Boise’s Mayor, Police, and the community for their support of refugees.
"This attack does not reflect, in any way, the tremendous welcoming nature of the Boise community we have worked with so closely since opening in 2006," Tzul said. "It is heartbreaking to know that people and children who fled horror of war and conflict to find safety in America and the Boise Community had to experience violence all over again."
Boise Police Chief Bill Bones says the call came in at 8:46 p.m. Saturday and officers arrived in the area of W. State Street and Wylie Lane within four minutes.
Officers quickly located the suspect who was taken into custody. He is identified as 30-year-old Timmy Kinner of Los Angeles, California. He has been booked into the Ada County Jail on 9 counts of felony aggravated assault and 6 counts of felony injury to a child.
Kinner was a temporary resident of the Wylie Lane apartments until he was asked to leave on Friday. He is not a refugee according to police. There is still no motive given for the attack.
Chief Bones says multiple victims are refugees who live in the apartment complex. The age range of victims varies greatly.
