Mugshot of Shawki Thomas. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — On St. Croix, a female victim and an infant sustained injuries from a male suspect who allegedly strangled the female victim and punched her in the face and head while she was holding the infant.
The suspect, Shawki Thomas, appeared before the Magistrate Judge Ernest E. Morris, Jr. via teleconference from the Bureau of Corrections on Saturday for his advisement hearing.
He was charged with the following: second-degree assault as an act of domestic violence (DV), simple assault and battery/ DV, unlawful entry/ DV, and child abuse.
The fact sheet stated that when the victim attempted to close her front door that was open for some time on the morning of Friday, September 3, she noticed Thomas running towards it. Unable to close it fast enough as she was holding her infant in hand, Thomas entered, grabbed her by the neck and strangled her. The victim also said that Thomas punched her in the face and head several times while holding the infant. She then ran to a nearby location with her children for safety. Thomas followed but was made to leave the establishment.
Both the victim and infant had visible injuries, the fact sheet said. Photos of the infant’s injuries were taken by the forensics technician. The victim refused medical attention for her injuries.
Minor witnesses present at the scene corroborated the victim’s statement to police.
The fact sheet said that Thomas told officers that he went to the victim’s home days prior to retrieve his keys from the victim. He stated that he called the police, but they were unable to retrieve the keys. On the eve of September 2, he noticed that most all of his clothing were missing from his home. On September 3, he said he went back to the victim’s home to retrieve his keys. Thomas denied hitting the victim.
According to attorney Yolan Brow-Ross, Thomas had prior domestic violence arrests, but she was unsure at the hearing as to whether there were any DV convictions. According to Thomas’s statement in the fact sheet, he was arrested earlier this year relative to an incident with the same victim and was currently under conditions from the court to stay away from the victim.
Judge Morris ruled on the following pre-trial release conditions for Thomas:
- Post a fully secured bond of $5,000
- Prohibited from leaving the St. Croix jurisdiction without the court’s prior written permission
- Not enter the premises of the housing complex that the victim resides at
- Maintain a minimum distance of 1000 feet from the victims
- No direct or indirect contact with witnesses or victims
- Surrender passport or not obtain one
