Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
An Indian-origin man was charged with murder on Tuesday for fatally stabbing a registered sex offender in California’s Fremont last week in what investigators said was a targeted attack.
The police detained Fremont resident Varun Suresh, 29, at the scene of the crime and recovered a knife from him. He was arrested on suspicion of murdering David Brimmer, 71, under Penal Code 187(a). This is the city’s fifth homicide this year.
According to the Fremont police, officers were called around 12.01 pm on September 18 to Upper Vintners Circle after reports of a violent altercation. They found Brimmer unresponsive with severe stab wounds. Despite immediate trauma care, Brimmer was pronounced dead at the scene.
Court documents revealed that Suresh used the publicly accessible Megan’s Law database of sex offenders to target Brimmer, who had served nine years in prison following a 1995 conviction for sexually assaulting a child. The police confirmed that he had no personal connection with Suresh prior to the attack.
Investigators alleged that Suresh posed as a certified public accountant or auditor, going door-to-door in the neighbourhood before approaching the victim’s home. Brimmer fled, but Suresh chased him for two blocks into a neighbour’s garage and kitchen, where he allegedly stabbed him in the neck while telling him to “repent.”
The police said Brimmer tried to crawl away, but Suresh cut his throat “to make sure it was done.” After his arrest, Suresh allegedly admitted that he selected Brimmer because of his age and vulnerability, telling investigators the killing was “honestly really fun.” He added, “I don’t like paedophiles. They deserve to die.”
According to the police, Suresh also said that he never planned to escape, claiming that he would have called officers himself if they had not already arrived.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office charged Suresh with murder, with additional enhancements for residential burglary and being armed with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury. Authorities described the incident as isolated and said there was no ongoing threat to the public. Suresh remains in custody as prosecutors review the case.
Suresh has a prior criminal history. In 2021, he was arrested by the Fremont police for burglary, making a false bomb threat, as well as criminal threats. Court documents showed that the threat was part of a failed attempt to target another alleged paedophile. He has also faced a separate case with the Walnut Creek police.
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
