A case of vigilantism unfolded in Fremont, California, when 29-year-old Varun Suresh fatally stabbed 71-year-old David Brimmer, a convicted sex offender, outside Brimmer’s home on September 18, 2025.
Suresh, who did not know Brimmer personally, admitted to targeting him after discovering his name on California’s Megan’s Law sex offender registry. According to court documents obtained by KTVU, Suresh expressed that he had wanted to kill a sex offender for years because “they hurt children,” and believed they “deserve to die.” He reportedly told police that the act was “honestly really fun.”
The Suresh case
UPDATE: “Sounded like 2 ppl were attacking each other. (Caller) says that they were about to die.” I’ve learned Varun Suresh,29,held by @FremontPD on suspicion of murder in deadly stabbing on Upper Vintners Cir,busted by dept in ‘21 false bomb threat,has prior @walnutcreekpd case pic.twitter.com/RplL0uTOK8
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) September 19, 2025
According to Fremont police, the attack occurred around noon when officers responded to reports of a fight. Upon arrival, they found Brimmer unresponsive with multiple stab wounds. Despite efforts to administer trauma care, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Suresh was found nearby and arrested; a knife was recovered at the scene.
Investigators revealed that Suresh had posed as a certified public accountant going door-to-door to appear legitimate before confronting Brimmer. He chased Brimmer into an unrelated residence to continue the assault. Court documents indicate that Suresh had previously sought out registered sex offenders as potential victims. Suresh now faces murder, residential burglary, and related charges.
Brimmer served nine years in prison for a 1995 conviction for ‘lewd and lascivious acts’ with a child. Reports indicate that police arrested Suresh in 2021 for making a false bomb threat and criminal threats. He allegedly claimed that the incident was also a failed attempt to target another person he believed to be a pedophile.
The vigilante justice trend
The case raises complex questions about vigilantism and justice, highlighting the dangers of individuals taking the law into their own hands. Authorities caution against using public registries as tools for personal retribution, emphasizing the importance of due process and legal channels in addressing criminal behavior.
Similarly, the “To Catch a Predator” trend on TikTok involves individuals or groups staging sting operations to confront alleged sexual predators, often by luring them through dating apps or social media platforms. These self-styled vigilantes then ambush the individuals, accuse them of inappropriate intentions, and record the encounters for viral content. This trend has drawn inspiration from the television program To Catch a Predator, which aired from 2004 to 2007 and featured similar sting operations. Such activities on TikTok have raised significant ethical and legal concerns.
One notable incident occurred in October 2024, when five students from Assumption University in Worcester, Massachusetts, allegedly lured a 22-year-old man to campus through a Tinder profile.
Once on campus, the man was surrounded by a group of students who accused him of attempting to meet underage girls, an accusation that was later found to be baseless. The students filmed the confrontation and posted it online, leading to widespread attention and subsequent legal action.
The students faced charges including conspiracy and kidnapping, though most charges were later dropped due to insufficient evidence. However, some students still faced additional charges related to the incident
