A state Supreme Court jury on Tuesday convicted a Wayne County man of several felonies, including attempted murder as a hate crime, for stabbing a man on a Perinton hiking trail last summer.
Guilty of attempted murder as a hate crime
Derrick Van Epps, now 31, of Palmyra was convicted of attempted second-degree murder as a hate crime and second-degree assault as a hate crime, both felonies, following a jury trial, according to the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office.
Unprovoked attack on hiking trail
The incident took place around 11:50 a.m. on June 23, 2025 at Indian Hill, a 35-acre wooded property known for its hiking trails, located on Pittsford-Palmyra Road near Turk Hill Road.
The victim was walking along a trail within the park when he passed another man, later identified as Van Epps, who attacked him from behind without any provocation, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
Van Epps was accused of knocking the hiker to the ground and stabbing him multiple times with a hunting knife, deputies said.
The man fought off his attacker and escaped, cutting through a wooded part of the property to a neighbor’s house, according to the DA’s Office. That neighbor called 911 for help. The injured man was taken to an area hospital for treatment and survived his injuries.
Attack allegedly motivated by hate
According to the indictment, Van Epps was accused of intentionally selecting the victim based on his race, color, national origin, or ancestry — regardless of whether that belief or perception was accurate.
Authorities confirmed that the two men did not know each other prior to the attack.
“There is absolutely no place in Monroe County for hate-fueled violence, racism, or acts of terror against members of our community,” Monroe County District Attorney Brian Green said in a news release. “Derrick Van Epps targeted this victim because of the color of his skin and carried out a senseless, horrifying attack that could have ended a young man’s life. This conviction sends a clear message that hate crimes will be prosecuted aggressively and that those who commit acts of racist violence will be held fully accountable.”
Apprehended in nearby town park
Park security spotted Van Epps driving into nearby Egypt Park, located at the corner of Pittsford-Palmyra and Victor roads in Perinton. Deputies apprehended him at the park without incident.
What’s next
Van Epps is scheduled to be sentence on July 9 by state Supreme Court Justice Stephen Miller.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Man guilty of hate crime in unprovoked trail attack
Reporting by Victoria E. Freile, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
