A 26-year-old man was charged on July 25 with a deadly knife attack at a group home in Orange for people with special needs.

Desmond Alan Kisaka was charged with murder and two felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon with sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a deadly weapon. Mr. Kisaka pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to return to court on Aug. 2 for a pretrial hearing.

Mr. Kisaka is accused of fatally stabbing 47-year-old Tom Braunschneiger, who resided in the group home with Mr. Kisaka in the 400 block of East Chestnut Avenue in Orange, according to Sgt. Phil McMullin of the Orange Police Department.

Police were called about 9 a.m. to the home regarding a resident experiencing a “manic episode,” Mr. McMullin said. The staff called 911 and officers used a Taser to subdue him, Mr. McMullin said.

Mr. Kisaka had been a resident of the group home since 2019, Mr. McMullin said.

The criminal complaint alleges Mr. Kisaka also assaulted two others.