Deaf North Carolina Man Stabbed After Sign Language Misinterpreted As Gang Signs

A deaf man in North Carolina was stabbed in what police are describing as a “misunderstanding over sign language.” According to the Gaston Gazette, Terrance Daniels was walking down the street and communicating in sign language, when Robert Neal mistook the sign language for gang signs and stabbed him. Neal has been taken into custody and charged with assault.

Police received a call shortly after the stabbing incident on Wednesday from fire department personnel who were on the scene. Daniels is currently in the hospital being treated for his multiple stab wounds, and as of yesterday he has been listed in stable condition.

After the police arrived on the scene, they were told by witnesses that they saw Daniels in an altercation with another man, leading to them issuing a warrant for Neal’s arrest.

He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury and felonious assault on a handicapped person. At around 12:16 a.m., with the assistance of the Elon Police Department, officers found Neal in Elon and he was taken into custody without incident.

One local resident told police that later in the evening after the stabbing incident, Neal came through her backyard and threatened her young granddaughter.

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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