Murder at Meat-Packing Plant Was Retaliation for Prank: Police

Peter Jok Atem (Photo courtesy of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office)

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By Kara Seymour

A fatal stabbing Wednesday at a Montgomery County meat-packing plant was retaliation for a prank that happened the day before, authorities said Thursday.

Peter Jok Atem, 32, has been charged in the murder of Danny Vazquez, 25, at the MOPAC Rendering Plant on Souder Road in Franconia Township.

According to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, the two were coworkers. On Tuesday, authorities said, Vazquez tried to pull a chair out from under Atem, who said he was “going to get you for that,” witnesses told authorities.

The next day, authorities said, Atem physically attacked Vazquez, pinning him to the floor. Vazquez was able to get away but a short time later, Atem again approached him, and this time the confrontation was fatal, police said.

A witness told police he heard screaming and saw the defendant stabbing Vazquez inside the meat-packing plant. The witness allegedly tried to get help for Vazquez but he collapsed and uttered his last words before becoming unresponsive, according to information from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

Vazquez was transported by Harleysville Ambulance to Lansdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police later located Atem hiding in a shed a short distance from the scene of the crime. He had self-inflicted stab wounds and was rushed to Paoli Memorial Hospital, the District Attorney’s office said.

He remains hospitalized after getting surgery for his wounds.

He is charged with first-degree murder, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

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