Brothers claim self defense in fatal Hayward Target stabbing

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Things got heated Wednesday in an Oakland courtroom Wednesday as the wife of a man stabbed to death inside a Hayward Target store on Christmas Eve came face to face with the brothers accused of killing him.

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The wife of Tyrone Griffin Jr. was removed from the courtroom after an emotional outburst. She had some choice words for the two brothers charged with stabbing Griffin to death. "I don't know if they were high or what," said Nicole Simmons. "Right in front of his child."

The father of the suspects told ABC7 News they were acting in self defense. "They were attacked," he said. "They're portraying them as some thugs, going into the store, and it's not even like that. They're always home with their family."

Frankie Archuleta, 22, and his 25-year-old brother Jesse were arrested late Saturday near the Target store where police say an altercation led to Griffin's death.

"The suspects after the stabbing, they fled the store," said Ruben Pola of the Hayward police department. "They ran nearby and they were hiding."

Tommi Davis was with Griffin and his two youngest children at the store. She told us the men stabbed him after he told them to turn down their music. The Archuletas's sister, who did not want to be identified, told ABC7 News her brothers claim it was self-defense. They say Griffin was stabbed after he hit one of them in the head.

"I wish I could say sorry to them," said the Archuletas' sister. "Sorry doesn't bring them back, but it was just an altercation that went wrong. My brothers felt threatened."

The Archuleta brothers will be back in court Thursday morning. Both are being held without bail.

RELATED: Man fatally stabbed inside Hayward Target store

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