SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 17, 2026 (Gephardt Daily) — The Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office has formally charged Peter Michael Larsen with two counts of attempted murder after Larsen, 48, allegedly stabbed one man 15 or more times, and cut a second man who was trying to defend the victim, allegedly stating that he would be next.
The charges, both classified as hate crimes due to the Larsen’s statement that he committed the acts due to his desire to kill Muslims, are first-degree felonies.
Larsen is also charged with prohibited dangerous weapons conduct, category 1, a third-degree felony. Larsen is prohibited from possessing a weapon due to his status as a convicted felon. The weapon used was reportedly a pocketknife-sized blade attached to brass knuckles.
The attack happened Monday afternoon at Valley Fair Mall. West Valley City police were called to the scene, and found the victim on the floor near the kiosk where he worked, covered in blood. The man was transported to an area hospital in critical condition.
Larsen, who had been stopped by bystanders, was taken into custody.
Witnesses said Larsen spoke briefly to the victim, identified in court documents as S.S. and in a family fundraising account as “Sohail,” then began stabbing Sohail.
Salt Lake County DA Sim Gill said that based on information from witnesses, the knife attack began after Larsen asked Sohail where he was from, and the victim said “India,” then Larsen asked if Sohail was Muslim, and the victim confirmed that he was.
Gill said Larsen said in an interview that he knew there would be Muslims working in that area of the mall, because he had seen them before.
Witnesses confirmed that the victim never acted with any anger or aggression toward Larsen.
A friend of Sohail, identified as W.M., was nearby, and recognized his voice as he screamed, and responded, Gill said.
“While attempting to get Larsen off S.S., he was also cut on by Larsen,” a news release from the DA’s Office says. “W.M. stated that when Larsen was being restrained by other males, Larsen pointed the knife at W.M. and said, ‘You are next. You are next.'”
In a later interview with investigators, Larsen told police “he had targeted the victim with intent to kill him because of his religion (Muslim).” Larsen also told officers “he believes he is a catalyst and he intends to kill Muslims.”
Gill said he had interviewed one of Larsen’s family members, who said Larsen “believes all the negative propaganda that is being posted on social media about Islam,” Gill said.
The family member said Larsen “also has racist views on Mexican and African American people, and the defendant poses a substantial danger to the community if released, and has the potential to cause harm to others,” Gill said.
“So, due to the serious nature of the allegations and the substantial danger the defendant has demonstrated he poses to the community, we’re requesting that he be also held without bail.”
Gill said he spoke with people at the Utah Islamic Center about their ongoing concerns.
“They are impacted by that, and I think it’s just important to know that we are a diverse people. Our community is the product of our rich cultures and traditions, and that is what really serves as our ethos for that community and our community at large. And the stranger is welcomed here, and you know there is ongoing concern but there’s also incredible resiliency.”
“I just want to say that for our community, that we are together this, resilient, and they will get the support from this office and from others in our community. So do not lose hope, and we are better than that, and we can overcome that rhetoric and the stuff that is going around, and that does not define who we are as a community and who we are as a nation.”
