Today, Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill announced the filing of two attempted aggravated murder charges against Peter Michael Larsen for an alleged knife attack at the Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City on July 13, 2026.
The defendant is charged with:
• Two counts of first-degree felony attempted aggravated murder
• One count of third-degree felony prohibited dangerous weapon conduct of a category I restricted individual
In the filed information document, notices are given for a potential hate crime, the defendant as a habitual violent offender, and use of a dangerous weapon by a restricted person.
“We have been in contact with both victim families to ensure they have the resources they need to work through this traumatic experience. An alleged unprovoked attack on anyone in our community is unacceptable, but an attack allegedly motivated because of the victim’s religion is alarming. In the United States of America, we live in a pluralistic society. We live alongside people who may come from different cultures, have different religious beliefs, and may not share our exact view of the world, but we still believe in the promise of our country that you can come here and make your own American dream. This conduct is not only an alleged attack on the two victims, but it also an attack on the values and ideals that bind us as a community and one that still welcomes the stranger,” said Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill. “We appreciate the work of West Valley City Police Department detectives whose investigation helped lead to the filing of these charges. All persons accused of wrongdoing are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law."