A Brownwood man was sent to the hospital late Friday night after he was stabbed at Tequila Nights Club by a family member, according to police.

According to Assistant Police Chief James Fuller, the 34-year-old victim Daniel David Salazar was at the club when two relatives arrived.  Several Salazar family members were present at the club that night.  A cousin greeted him with a hug and then his father (the victim’s uncle), identified as 44-year-old Michael Salazar, Sr. came up and stabbed the victim with two quick puncture wounds in the abdomen said Fuller.  The suspect then calmly walked away from the scene according to police.

Officers looked for the suspect Friday night and into Saturday; however, were unable to locate him.  At 4:30pm Saturday, Michael Salazar, Sr. came to the Law Enforcement Center with a bail bondsman and surrendered to authorities.  Salazar remained in custody as of Monday morning on charges of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and was being held on $100,000 bond.

The victim underwent surgery and is said to be recovering in good condition according to Fuller.

The victim along with his cousin and uncle are not strangers to violent acts between family members according to police.  Investigation of the current incident at Tequila Nights revealed that this is retaliation against the victim for another stabbing that occurred outside another local bar, the Hitching Post (Uncle Roy’s Catfish and Seafood Grill) back in February of this year stated Fuller.  During this incident, several Salazar family members were said to be present.  The victim was “bullying” the cousin when another cousin came to defend him and was stabbed in buttocks by a woman said Fuller.

“As big as this was, it was very limited in scope,” stated Fuller.  “It was big in the scope that an uncle almost killed his nephew.”

Fuller praised the work of the criminal investigation division as well as the patrolmen who responded.

“Detective Trey Weathermon and patrol did a great job and were able to process the scene and get witness statements in order to get an arrest warrant issued quickly.”

The incident is still under investigation according to Fuller.