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Montgomery Co. DA: Franconia Meat-packing Plant Stabbing Sparked By Prank

FRANCONIA TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) – Montgomery County officials say a dispute that ended with a man dead at a Philadelphia area meat packing plant began with a relatively harmless prank.

According to police, on Feb. 17, 2015, the victim, 25-year-old Danny Vazquez, tried to pull a chair out from underneath the suspect, 32-year-old Peter Jok Atem, at the MOPAC Rendering Plant.

After the prank, the Atem reportedly told Vazquez, "I'm going to get you for that."

The next day, a witness told police he saw Atem involved in a physical altercation with the Vazquez, but that Vazquez was able to get away from the argument and return to work.

A little while later, the witness heard screaming and saw Atem stabbing Vazquez.

After the stabbing, witnesses tried to get Vazquez help, but he collapsed outside the office and died.

Police at the scene say they found Atem hiding inside a shed with stab and slash wounds that appeared to be self-inflicted and transported him to Paoli Hospital, where he underwent surgery for those wounds.

Police also say they located a note near the scene that read, in part, "see you in hell. life for life."

Atem remains hospitalized and is now facing first-degree murder charges as well as related charges.

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