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Dad, son stabbed at Thanksgiving dinner

A Thanksgiving dinner turned violent when a man with a history of mental illness allegedly stabbed two relatives with a carving knife after they criticized his table manners.
/ Source: The Associated Press

A Thanksgiving dinner turned violent when a man with a history of mental illness allegedly stabbed two relatives with a carving knife after they criticized his table manners.

Police said the fight broke out Thursday when the relatives reprimanded Frank Palacios for picking at the turkey with his fingers, instead of slicing off pieces with a knife.

Palacios then stabbed 18-year-old cousin Gonzalo Ocasio Jr. in the chest, back and right side, authorities said. His father, Gonzalo Ocasio, 49, suffered a stab wound in his arm. Both men are expected to survive.

Palacios, 24, was arraigned Friday on charges of armed assault with intent to murder, among other assault charges.

A court forensic psychologist who conducted a preliminary evaluation of Palacios told a judge that the suspect reported a history of hospitalizations for schizophrenia. Palacios told the court he was prescribed psychiatric medications after his most recent hospitalization in March, but stopped taking them in June. Palacios also told the psychologist he had been experiencing hallucinations and delusions.