A deaf man in Burlington, North Carolina, was stabbed multiple times after his sign-language conversation with another deaf man was mistaken for gang signs.

The incident took place Wednesday afternoon on East Morehead Street, where 45-year-old Terrance Ervin Daniels was exchanging words in sign language with another man.

Police say Daniels was suddenly approached by 22-year-old Robert Jarell Neal, and stabbed multiple times with a kitchen knife.

He managed to make his way to a nearby intersection, where he collapsed on a patch of grass.

Emergency services eventually made their way to the scene and transported Daniels to Alamance Regional Medical Center in stable condition.

Neal was arrested a few hours later and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, and felony assault on a handicapped.

According to Burlington Police staff Sgt. Mark Yancey, it was determined that Neal had mistaken Daniels sign language for gang signs. Yancey added that Neal himself is not a member of a gang.

As Geekosystem notes, this sort of thing is a bit too common.

[mug shot via Burlington police]