PERINTON, N.Y. – A man, Dylan Ghaemi, was attacked with a knife on the Indian Hill Trail in Perinton, and the suspect is now facing charges of attempted murder.
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The victim shared his account of the attack with News10NBC’s Chief Investigative Reporter, Berkeley Brean.
“He tried to get me across the neck with full intention of taking my life,” Ghaemi said.
The attack occurred in a clearing at the top of the trail. Ghaemi, who has walked the trail more than 100 times, described the terrifying moment when he saw the attacker with a knife in his peripheral vision. The assailant tackled him, attempting to stab him multiple times.
Ghaemi’s hands, neck, face, and head bear the marks of the assault, and the attacker also tried to gouge his eye out.
“Honestly, I was thinking about my mom and my family,” Ghaemi said. “I really care deeply about them. I wasn’t so concerned about my life as to what’s going to happen to my mom.”
Ghaemi mentioned that he did not know the attacker and had never met him before. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the arrested suspect, Derrick VanEpps, is white.
The possibility of the attack being classified as a hate crime is under consideration. Inv. Sgt. David Bolton of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said, “It’s on the table, but all options are on the table.”
VanEpps is currently in jail with bail set at $50,000.
Ghaemi expressed faith in the justice system but acknowledged that the emotional impact of the attack will take time to heal.
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