At the new Arizona Intel campus, in Chandler Arizona, three employees were involved in a fatal altercation, leaving one dead, one injured and one in Jail. One worker was reportedly arrested, after brutally beating a coworker to death, and assaulting another who encountered him. Until Chandler Police can notify immediate family members, the victim’s name is being withheld.
The incident occurred just before 6 am Saturday, inside the cafeteria of Intel's $20B Arizona semiconductor project. Creating two chip factories in Arizona in 2021, Intel broke ground on a $20 billion project on the Ocotillo campus. It was hailed as the largest private-sector investment in the state's history.
According to Chandler Police responding to the scene, they found one-person dead, with fatal blunt force trauma injuries and another individual injured. On Saturday, according to court documents obtained by Arizona Family and the Associated Press, Derrick Lemond Simmons, 50, was arrested after he attacked the unnamed coworker - with a bat, a knife and a hatchet, at the semiconductor manufacturer’s Ocotillo campus
Simmons, was arrested on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated assault in Chandler, Arizona, after the incident at Intel's Ocotillo campus. The second victim was reportedly injured after confronting Simmons. There has been no stated motive in the case, which is under investigation by Chandler Police. The second individual is expected to survive their injuries.
Booked into the Maricopa County Jail, as charged, Simmons, is being held on a $1 million cash bond. He reportedly has a previous felony conviction, for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to FOX10 Phoenix.
Regarding the incident, an Intel spokesperson, sent the following response-
“After the tragic incident at our Ocotillo campus on Saturday, Intel Security are working with Chandler Police, as they conduct their investigation”
-Linda Qian, Spokesperson, Intel Arizona
As this incident remains under investigation, coverage of this story will continue to develop. More information is likely forthcoming. Stay tuned.
“Educate your children to self-control, to the habit of holding passion and prejudice and evil tendencies subject to an upright and reasoning will, and you have done much to abolish misery from their future and crimes from society.”
-Benjamin Franklin