In an act of "pure evil," a knife-wielding man stormed a 3-year-old girl's birthday party at an apartment complex in Boise, Idaho, stabbing her, five other children and three adults -- all refugees who had fled violence in their homelands only to find it in America, police said.

The man, whom police identified as Timothy Kinner, 30, was arrested in connection with the frenzied attack Saturday night.

The suspect's motive was "vengeance" for being asked to leave an apartment in the complex due to his behavior, Boise Police Chief Bill Bones said during an emotional news conference Sunday afternoon.

"Our victims are some of the newest members of our community. They're victims from their past homes who have fled violence from Syria, Iraq, and Ethiopia," Bones said.

He said there was no evidence this was a hate crime.

The rampage occurred at the Wylie Street Station apartments, a low-income complex where many refugees have been settled.

Bones said Kinner is from Los Angeles and had been invited to stay for a few days at the apartment of a renter who had shown him compassion, Bones said. But due to his disruptive behavior, Kinner was asked to leave the apartment on Friday, the chief said.

"He returned last night to exact vengeance, not just on those whom he had been [staying] with because they were not at the apartment, but at any target that was available," Bones said.

The stabbing spree unfolded around 8:46 p.m. when Kinner returned to the apartment where he had been staying and found nobody home, Bones said.

"The tragedy was that a 3-year-old little girl was having a birthday party just a few doors down from where Kinner had been staying," Bones said. "Kinner attacked, targeting the children initially. The 3-year-old girl, whose birthday it was, was one of those seriously injured."

He said Kinner then proceeded to allegedly stab other children attending the birthday party, two 4-year-olds, a 6-year-old, an 8-year-old and a 12-year-old. He then allegedly knifed three adults who tried to stop the attack, Bones said.

"Our suspect is a man with an extensive criminal record spanning multiple states, who has spent time in prison, and whose past criminal violations do include violence against others," Bones said. "He is an American. He's not a refugee."

As part of former President Barack Obama's refugee resettlement program of 2012, Boise has become a magnet for refugees from far-flung parts of the world.

Boise Mayor Dave Bieter said the attack "does not represent Boise" and he asked citizens of the community to keep the victims in their prayers.

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