Posted on January 15, 2013

Deaf Man Stabbed Multiple Times After His Sign Language Is Mistaken for Gang Signs

Daily Mail (London), January 12, 2013

Police in North Carolina say a deaf man was stabbed several times after his sign language was mistaken for gang signs by another man.

Burlington Police Sgt. Mark Yancey said 45-year-old Terrance Ervin Daniels was using sign language with another deaf man.

He said a third person saw them, thought they were flashing gang signs and stabbed Daniels with a kitchen knife.

A neighbor saw the victim and called emergency personnel.

Daniels is in stable condition at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill after Wednesday’s incident.

Police arrested 22-year Robert Jarell Neal and charged him with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and felony assault on a handicapped person.

Robert Neal

Robert Neal

Cathy Sanford of Maple Ave. said she was in her home when she heard her dog barking.

When she looked in the backyard she saw a man later identified as Neal running though it just minutes after the stabbing reportedly took place.

Sanford reported the incident to police after Neal returned and threatened her 12-year-old granddaughter.

Officers found Neal in Elon where he was taken into custody without incident.

He’s being held in the Alamance County jail on a $500,000 secure bond.

It’s not known if Neal has an attorney.