BURLINGTON, N.C. (AP) — Police in Burlington say a deaf man was stabbed several times after his sign language was mistaken for gang signs by another man.

Sgt. Mark Yancey said 45-year-old Terrance Ervin Daniels was using sign language with another deaf man. A third person saw them, thought they were flashing gang signs and stabbed Daniels several times 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. He’s in the Alamance County jail on a $500,000 bond. It’s not known if Neal has an attorney.

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