Deaf man stabbed multiple times after his sign language is mistaken for gang signs



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.

Mixed signals: Police say Robert Jarell Neal stabbed a deaf man after his sign language was mistaken for gang signs

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.

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.

Just communicating: A witness saw Neal stab Terrance Ervin Daniels, pictured, several times before the deaf man collapsed

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.

Gang related: Attacker Robert Jarell Neal is being held in jail on 500,000 bail

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

