Court documents detail homeless man's alleged attack on Topeka Rescue Mission staff member

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Court documents released Monday shed light on a brutal attack that left a Topeka Rescue Mission (TRM) staffer fighting for his life in a local hospital.

27 News obtained new information on April 28 regarding the attack on a staff member of the TRM in early April. The 52-year-old staffer was only recently released from a local hospital and is continuing to recover from his injuries sustained in the attack.

Topeka police responded around 11 p.m. on April 4 to the TRM at 600 North Kansas Avenue on reports of an assault. A 911 caller told police he witnessed Xavian M. Locke, 25, attack a TRM staff member, according to court documents.

Officers arrived in the area a few minutes later, finding Locke on his knees near the "lifeless" body of the TRM staff member, according to court documents. Police took Locke into custody while medical personnel treated the TRM staffer for "blunt force trauma to the head." The TRM staffer was transported to a local hospital for urgent care and was not expected to survive, per the court documents.

The Topeka Police Department (TPD) later obtained video surveillance from the TRM building. The video showed the TRM staffer conducting his final checks for the night around 10:50 p.m. with a flashlight in hand. Locke can be seen running up to the TRM staffer and attacking him unprovoked, according to court documents. Locke allegedly punches the TRM staffer before knocking him to the ground.

Locke then stomps on the TRM staffer's head with his foot before taking the flashlight and striking him over the head with it repeatedly, according to court records. Police arrived a short time later to find Locke kneeling beside the TRM staffer's body and arrested him.

The TRM staffer injured in the attack was involved in banning Locke from the TRM on March 26, 2025, according to court records. The TRM moved Locke's property outside the mission and asked him to leave but, when he became aggressive, contacted police to help with his removal.

The Shawnee County District Attorney charged Locke on April 9. His charges include the following:

• Attempted murder in the first degree; intentional and premeditated.
• Aggravated robbery; inflicts bodily harm.
• Aggravated battery; knowingly cause great bodily harm or disfigurement.
• Interference with law enforcement officer; obstruct/resist/oppose felony warrant service or execution.

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