Machete, baseball bat used in assault

EVERETT -- A neighbor trying to break up a fight between two brothers slashed a 20-year-old with a machete after the two allegedly turned on him Wednesday night, Everett police said.

Police received calls of a fight around 7:30 p.m. at an apartment complex in the 3200 block of 18th Street S. Witnesses told police two brothers were fighting on a  porch and a 47-year-old neighbor intervened, trying to break them up. The brothers allegedly turned on the neighbor, striking him with a baseball bat.

The neighbor, presumably upset the brother turned on him, brandished a machete and struck one of the brothers in the face. The injured man, 20, was taken to the Harborview Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The other brother allegedly fled the scene before police could arrive.

The machete-wielding neighbor told police he acted in self-defense.  He was taken into custody, and police are investigating the incident to determine if criminal charges will be filed.