READING, Pa. – Two men sustained injuries following a fight and stabbing that occurred at a Berks County residence on Friday night, says Reading police.
According to court documents, the incident occurred in the 300 block of N. 9th Street around 9:30 p.m. When police arrived, they found a man with stab wounds to his back and neck. He identified himself as 39-year-old Jose Luis Santiago and told officers he had been in a fight.
Further investigation revealed the other man involved was Santiago’s brother-in-law, 27-year-old Jonathan Orama, police say.
The criminal complaint says Oramas’s sister witnessed the incident, stating the fight began when her ex-boyfriend (Santiago) hit the woman’s child.
The woman said upon seeing his nephew get hit, Oramas confronted Santiago, which led the argument to become physical.
When Oramas spoke to police, the suspect stated he blacked out after he was punched in the face by Santiago, causing him to fall to the ground.
Oramas told police that when he regained consciousness, he went inside the house and got a knife to continue the fight. When he went back outside, Santiago allegedly pushed Oramas, causing him to fall backwards on the front steps. Santiago told police he was no longer able to provide additional information after that point, mentioning that he blacked out again.
According to officials, Oramas sustained lacerating injuries to his hand and chest that are believed to be self-inflicted.
Oramas apologized about the incident, telling police he never intended for Santiago to get stabbed.
Both men were transported to the Reading Hospital for treatment.
According to the criminal complaint, Oramas was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and related charges.
Santiago has also been charged with simple assault and related charges, police say.