Officials: Montco man was slain over office 'prank'

THERE IS NOTHING funny about the fallout from an office "prank" at a Montgomery County meat-processing plant.

A man was killed Wednesday, brutally stabbed by a co-worker who then allegedly turned the knife on himself after promising to "see you in hell," officials said yesterday.

And it all apparently traces back to when the victim tried to pull the chair out from underneath his alleged attacker, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said in a statement.

Peter Jok Atem, 32, has been charged with first-degree murder and related offenses in the slaying of Danny Vazquez, 25, with whom he worked at the MOPAC plant in Franconia Township, Ferman said.

Last night, Atem remained at Paoli Memorial Hospital, where he was taken Wednesday after he apparently slashed himself with a knife while hiding from police.

The chain of events began Tuesday, when Vazquez allegedly tried to knock Atem to the floor by grabbing his chair as he sat, Ferman said.

After this "prank," Atem allegedly swore to Vazquez that he was "going to get him for that."

The next day, witnesses told police that Atem violently attacked his co-worker, at one point knocking Vazquez to the ground and choking him.

The brawl was broken up, according to Ferman, and the two men returned to work.

Minutes later, screams filled the plant.

Witnesses said they saw Atem stab Vazquez several times before he fled. Vazquez collapsed and was taken to Abington-Lansdale Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Officers investigating the slaying found Atem in a nearby shed with what appeared to be self-inflicted slashing wounds. he wassitting next to a discarded knife, Ferman said.

A handwritten note near the weapon read, in part, "see you in hell. life for life."

Atem had not been formally arraigned as of last night, pending his release from the hospital.