A 22-year-old from Burlington, NC, has been arrested and charged with felony assault on a handicapped person and assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury. Earlier this month, Robert Jarell Neal apparently saw a 45-year-old deaf man communicating to another man using sign language. Police allege that Neal saw the two men communicating with each other and thought they were flashing gang symbols at each other. So he allegedly did what anyone else in that situation would do.
He stabbed one of the deaf men numerous times with a kitchen knife:
Police say responders found Terrance Ervin Daniels, 45, in the grass at the intersection suffering from multiple stab wounds. The victim had been involved in an altercation that occurred on East Morehead Street before he walked to the intersection where he was found, police said.
Burlington Police Captain Steve Smith says they are investigating indications that the victim’s use of sign language may have confused or upset the attacker. “We are looking into whether or not the suspect thought the sign language was gang signs being displayed.” Cpt. Smith specified it was a working theory, not a confirmed motive.
Police were were planning to interview the victim at the hospital as soon as possible. Daniels was initially taken to Alamance Regional Medical Center for treatment, but he was transferred to UNC Chapel Hill Hospital. He had surgery and is in stable condition as of 3 p.m. Thursday, according to Burlington Police Cpl. Kevin King.
Several people who live near Maple Street say they saw Daniels attacked. “My voice is gone from me screaming, ‘Stop, stop, leave that man alone,” said Candace Gerrington through tears Thursday. She said Daniels was trying to defend himself, “Throwing his hands up like this. Next thing I saw was somebody stabbing and grinding him,” recalled Gerringon. Gerrington also knows the suspect, and says she saw Neal with a knife moments before the stabbing.
