Watch CBS News

Twin Brothers Arrested In San Jose Fatal Stabbing

SAN JOSE (CBS SF) - Twin brothers were arrested Monday in connection with the stabbing death of a 22-year-old man during a birthday party in East San Jose early Sunday, a police spokesman said Monday.

Anh and Duc Tong, both 18-year-old San Jose residents, were arrested and booked into Santa Clara County Jail Monday morning on suspicion of homicide for the murder of Richard Phan, Officer Albert Morales said.

Police arrested the twins after witnesses who saw the stabbing, which happened outside the home, were not completely sure which brother had stabbed Phan, Morales said.

"They look alike," Morales said. "If you look at them, they look pretty similar. At 1:30 in the morning, people could mistake one for other."

The stabbing was reported at about 1:25 a.m. Sunday at a home in the 3400 block of Suncrest Avenue. Officers responded and found Phan suffering from at least one stab wound, police said.

He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 2 a.m. that day, according to police.

Phan, a San Jose resident, had been invited to the party by a female friend who was hosting the gathering to celebrate her birthday, according to Morales.

The Tong brothers were invited by another guest, Morales said.

The victim may have been attempting to break up a fight outside the home just before he was stabbed, Morales said.

© Copyright 2014 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.