Son of Maricopa County Prosecutor Among Three Charged in Brutal Attack on ASU’s Tempe Campus

Son of Maricopa County Prosecutor Among Three Charged in Brutal Attack on ASU’s Tempe Campus

On the evening of September 27, 2025, an 18-year-old victim was severely assaulted outside a dormitory at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus. The attack occurred near the Hassayampa residence halls, at the intersection of Lemon Street and the dorm area. 

According to court filings, the victim was socializing inside the dorm room when a group of unknown men entered. One of them “shoulder-checked” the victim, sparking an argument. The intruders were asked to leave, but later the same group followed the victim outside and initiated the violent assault. 

Video surveillance reportedly shows five men walking together near Lemon Street, spotting the victim and his companion across the street, and then following and attacking him. The assault included punching to the head, pulling the victim to the ground, stomping and kicking while he was down, and restraining him as others struck him. 

Medical records show the victim suffered a broken nose, head injuries, and extensive bruising and cuts to his face, lip and eyelid. He was transported to hospital in a blood-covered state. 

The Suspects

Authorities have arrested several individuals in connection with the attack:

• Justin Otis, age 18, a senior at Hamilton High School in Chandler, is identified as one of the attackers. He is the son of Erin Otis, a prosecutor with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.  
• Donnell Young, age 18.  
• Jayden Smith, age 19.  
• A fourth suspect, a juvenile, remains unnamed in public documents.  

None of the arrested individuals are enrolled students at ASU, according to the university police. 

Special Considerations: Conflict of Interest

Because one of the suspects is the son of a prosecutor from the same county where the investigation is being conducted, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) determined that it must recuse itself. They referred the case to the Coconino County Attorney’s Office to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest. 

According to reporting, Erin Otis previously served as a judge and is currently involved with prosecuting death-penalty cases. Her son’s involvement in this case triggered the referral due to the potential for perceived bias, given her role and the nature of the attack. 

Legal Charges & Investigative Status

The primary suspects—Otis, Young and Smith—have been booked on aggravated assault charges. 

Investigators used surveillance footage, social-media review, and witness interviews to build the case. One friend of the victim identified Otis and indicated he had contact with him at a different dorm earlier. 

A fifth suspect has yet to be apprehended, according to public sources. 

Campus & Community Implications

This incident raises serious concerns about safety on and around the Tempe campus of ASU. Students and parents alike expressed alarm about the ease with which non-students entered residence halls and the severity of the attack. One ASU student, Alec Lopez, told media:

“It’s kind of a situation where it can be anyone at anytime. You don’t know if I could be next.” 

A parent of an ASU student echoed the anxiety:

“It could happen to anybody… of course I’m worried about my son and his friends.” 

The fact that the suspects do not attend the university but were able to launch such a violent attack outside a dorm underscores gaps in campus surveillance, access control, and after-hours security presence. The referral of the case to another county underscores the importance of public trust in the prosecutorial process when individuals connected to the legal system are involved.

Wider Significance

Several themes emerge from this case:

1. Campus Safety & External Threats: Universities often focus on internal misconduct (students, internal disputes), but this case involves external individuals entering a dorm and initiating violence. The risk vector is less predictable and more destabilizing for students’ sense of safety.
2. Violence Against Students: The assault involved extreme physical violence — stomping, kicking, holding down while punching. Injuries included broken bones and head trauma. It’s not a typical campus skirmish; it’s a criminal assault akin to gang or mob violence.
3. Perception & Justice: When individuals linked to prosecutorial power become suspects, public confidence in fairness and impartiality can be shaken. The MCAO’s decision to refer the case to Coconino County is a crucial move to maintain integrity, but it naturally puts a spotlight on how the system responds when insiders become defendants.
4. Access and Surveillance: The attack took place outside a dorm (“Hassayampa”), involved crossing a public street (Lemon Street) and wandering from the dorm to follow the victim. It spotlighted how surveillance, video analytics and monitoring of campus boundary areas may need enhancement.
5. Precedent & Legislation: Media commentary notes that the assault comes on the heels of legislation in Arizona aimed at “swarming” attacks — groups of individuals assaulting a victim. The so-called “Preston’s Law,” passed after the murder of teen Preston Lord, may apply or at least serves as a legislative backdrop.  

What Happens Next

• The next court conference was scheduled for October 31, 2025, although scheduling may change.  
• Investigators will continue to identify the remaining suspect(s) and evaluate whether additional charges — such as assault while using a weapon, mob assault or enhancement under the “swarming” statute — apply.
• The Coconino County Attorney’s Office will review the case and ultimately decide on formal charges, plea negotiations, or trial strategy, independent of the MCAO to preserve neutrality.
• ASU and the Tempe community will likely revisit security protocols around residence halls, after-hours access, visitor screening, and environmental design near Lemon Street and dorm-adjacent sidewalks.

Concluding Thoughts

This case is alarming for several reasons: the brazen nature of the attack, the involvement of non-students targeting a student near a dorm, the severe injuries inflicted, and the prosecutorial link that raises institutional optics. For the ASU community, it serves as a stark reminder that campus security is not confined to academic hours or enrolled individuals — external threats loom large and may require systemic responses beyond traditional models.

For the members of the broader community, it underscores the importance of swift, transparent prosecution and the need for law-enforcement agencies to manage conflicts of interest carefully. The public trust depends not only on the fact of arrest, but on fair, impartial processing — especially when insiders are involved.