Mugshot of José Acosta Jr. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — A violent domestic dispute on Sunday led to the arrest of a man accused of attacking his girlfriend with a knife, injuring her and severely damaging her vehicle, according to court documents. The incident unfolded over several hours and involved repeated threats, forced confinement, and a chase that ended in a public parking lot.
Investigators say the 911 Call Center received a call shortly after midday from a woman reporting that her partner had slashed her tires and threatened to kill her. Officers met her in the Home Depot parking lot, where she had fled after the confrontation with José Acosta Jr. Police documented extensive damage to her SUV: two flat tires, a sliced floor rug, and a broken dashboard. The woman told officers that Acosta punctured the tires with a knife and used the same weapon to cut the rug and break the wooden trim on the dashboard.
Police noted visible injuries on the woman, including abrasions to her neck, chest, arm, and leg, which she said came from being struck with the spine of the knife.
The woman provided a formal statement the following day. She said Acosta had been living with her during their 7-month relationship, which she described as tumultuous. When she told him on Sunday that she intended to end the relationship, he became enraged. After initially appearing to leave and removing his belongings, Acosta allegedly returned with a large kitchen knife. She said he wedged the front door shut with a chair, sat in it to block her exit, and called his mother while threatening a murder-suicide.
Her first attempt to call 911 was stopped when Acosta allegedly grabbed the phone from her hand and pressed the knife against her neck hard enough to leave a noticeable injury. She told police he kept her trapped inside, striking her with the back of the knife when she tried to get away.
At some point, Acosta’s mother and stepfather arrived, according to the victim. She said he briefly went outside to meet them but threatened to kill her if she attempted to leave. Before reentering the house, he reportedly punctured her tires, then again wedged the chair under the doorknob.
As she tried to move the chair, the woman told officers Acosta stabbed her in the chest, leaving a small puncture wound. She began screaming for help. When he went into the bedroom to retrieve something, she used the opportunity to escape. She drove first to a neighbor to call 911, then continued to Home Depot on two flat tires. She said Acosta followed her there and again threatened to kill her before leaving.
Police interviewed a neighbor who said they saw Acosta puncturing the tires on Sunday. A friend of the woman reported that Acosta appeared at her home in the early hours of Monday morning looking for his girlfriend. Officers also spoke to Acosta’s mother, who said her son called asking to be picked up and that she heard arguing when she arrived, though he did not tell her what was happening.
Acosta was detained later Monday, refused to provide a statement, and was arrested. He is charged with first-degree attempted murder, as well as several domestic violence–related offenses including first- and third-degree assault, false imprisonment, destruction of property, and disturbing the peace. Additional charges include first- and second-degree robbery and carrying or using a dangerous weapon. Due to the severity of the allegations, he was remanded into custody pending his advice-of-rights hearing.
According to public court records, appearances scheduled before Magistrate Yolan Brow Ross on Wednesday and Thursday were continued. Acosta is now expected to appear before the judge on Friday morning.
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