A family’s backyard Fourth of July gathering turned violent when an uncle allegedly stabbed his nephew in the 2700 block of Morgan Road in Ceres.

Officer Jessica Graham was dispatched to the stabbing at 8:33 p.m. The caller indicated that Brian Boatman had stabbed his 32-year-old nephew during an argument and left in a silver-colored SUV.

The victim, who was holding a towel on his wounded left upper arm, believed Boatman was headed to his home in the 1900 block of Fifth Street. According to the victim, both had been drinking and that a discussion of a prior dispute got physical when they started pushing each other. Boatman, said the nephew, produced a knife and stabbed him a few times in the left upper arm. They were both separated and Boatman left the scene. Officer Graham only located one laceration on his arm about an inch and a half in length. The victim was treated on scene by AMR and refused to be transported.

Several other family members provided witness statements as to what occurred.

Police later located Boatman in his silver SUV in his driveway in the 1900 block of Fifth Street. Officers performed a high-risk stop and Boatman was arrested.

Boatman said he only had one beer and was not drunk. He claimed everything was fine until victim began threatening to fight him. He said the victim continued to provoke a fight and threatened to “kick Brian’s a - -.”  Boatman told police that he kept ignoring his nephew until he kicked off his shoes and came at him. Boatman said he couldn’t remember any stabbing but remembered everyone telling him that he stabbed is nephew.

When asked about the knife, Boatman said he drove to Fox Grove and threw it into the river before driving home where police were waiting for him.

Boatman was booked into the Public Safety Center for felonious assault with a deadly weapon.