Group of deaf, mute friends stabbed at bar after thug mistakes sign language for gang signs

[Lucinda F. Boyd]

Group of deaf, mute friends stabbed at bar after thug mistakes sign language for gang signs

BY Philip Caulfield DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER Sunday, May 1st 2011, 3:54 PM

WSVN-TV

Alfred Stewart, 31, who is deaf, and some friends were partying at a bar when a gang-banger mistook their sign language for gang signs. 

A group of deaf friends were stabbed at a bar in Florida after a woman mistook their sign language for gang signs.

Alfred Stewart, 31, was partying at the Ocean's Eleven Lounge in Hallendale Beach, Fla., with some friends who were also deaf on Saturday night when the group's signing caught the eye of gang-banger Barbara Lee.

The 45-year-old Lee though the group was throwing gang signs at her, and responded by flashing gang signs back at them, cops said.

The group motioned for her to leave them alone.

Eventually, Lee left the bar but returned with two members of her crew, 19-year-old Marco Ibanez and a 17-year-old who was not identified, cops said.

Ibanez allegedly pulled a knife and began stabbing Stewart and his friends.

Stewart and three of his friends were taken to a hospital and treated for stab wounds.

A bouncer at the bar who had a bottle smashed over his head in the melee was also taken to the hospital. None of the injuries were life-threatening, officials said.

Lee, Ibanez and the 17-year-old were arrested and charged with aggravated battery.

Stewart's mother, Brenda, said there was no way her son was making gang signs.

"Only sign language," she told WSVN television. "That's the only way all of them, they do sign language."

Barbara Lee, 45, and Marco Ibanez, 19, were arrested after the stabbing. (WSVN-TV)

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2011/05/01/2011-05-01_grou...