The man, Isaiah Peoples, 34, faces eight counts of attempted murder in the episode, in which eight people were injured. Three of the victims were minors, and one, a 13-year-old girl, remained in critical condition Friday evening.
Chief Phan Ngo, of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety, said at a news conference Friday afternoon that further evidence obtained by the police suggested that Peoples “intentionally targeted the victims based on their race and his belief that they were of the Muslim faith.”
The chief would not elaborate on how the police obtained the information pointing to a possible motive, saying that the investigation was continuing.
“The only thing that we can confirm at this time,” Ngo added, “is that, on the day of the incident, he had picked up some food and that he was on his way to deliver the food to his Bible study group.”
Jay Boyarsky, chief assistant district attorney of Santa Clara County, said at the news conference that “there is no hate crime allegation at this point in time, for one reason only: The matter is still being investigated.” Some of the charges Peoples already faces carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Boyarsky added that there was “very appalling and disturbing evidence” that at least one or two of the victims were targeted “based on the defendant’s view of what their race or religion may have been.”
In an interview Friday night, Capt. Jim Choi of the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety said there was no indication that the crime was motivated by terrorism. But he added that the department was “still waiting to know more” based on a search of Peoples’ computer and cellphone.
Peoples, a Sunnyvale resident, appeared in court Friday and is being held without bail at the Santa Clara County Jail. He will enter a plea May 16, his lawyer, Chuck Smith, said.
At a news conference after the court hearing, Smith focused heavily on Peoples’ military experience and how that time may have affected him. Peoples served in the Army from 2004 to 2006 and in the Army Reserve from 2006 to 2008, Smith said.
“His mental state is going to be the battleground in the case,” Smith said. “We’re going to have him evaluated by the best people we can find because, like all veterans, he deserves the best people we can find.”
“This,” he added, “is obviously a story that we’re seeing unfold in many, many cases across the country.”