Brothers Charged With Attempted Murder in Maple Shade Stabbing

Two brothers have been charged with attempted murder following a knife attack at a Maple Shade apartment complex early Sunday morning, Burlington County Prosecutor Robert D. Bernardi and Maple Shade Police Chief Gary Gubbei announced Monday afternoon.

Franklin Sandoval Avila, 22, and Marco Veletanga Sandoval, 18, both of the Fox Meadow Apartment Complex in Maple Shade, were charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Maple Shade police were called to the area of Fox Meadow Drive and Hancock Drive just after 2 a.m. Sunday morning. They discovered two male victims on the ground with multiple stab wounds.

The victims were taken to Cooper University Hospital in Camden. Daniel Tapia, 31, is listed in stable condition with stab wounds to his face, neck and abdomen. Pedro Tapia, 27, was treated and released for a stab wound to his abdomen.

The attack occurred outside of the unit shared by the victims. Avila was apprehended nearby in the area of Gardenia Drive. He was treated and released from Cooper for cuts to his hands.

Sandoval was apprehended by Moorestown Police on Camden Avenue in Moorestown. He was taken to Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly, where he was treated and released for cuts to his hands.

Bail was set at $250,000 for each of the defendants.

The motive is under investigation.

Participating agencies included the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and the Maple Shade Police Department, with assistance from the Moorestown, Cinnaminson, Cherry Hill, Evesham, Mount Laurel, Palmyra and Riverton police departments.