A young mother of two is now hospitalised in New Amsterdam after she was burnt in a suspected acid attack that was allegedly carried out by her former partner, who is now wanted by police.
While Shondell Williamson, 26, of 13 Main Street, New Amsterdam, was said to be in a stable condition yesterday at the New Amsterdam Public Hospital, nursing burn injuries to her face, back and hands, the police were searching for Alfred De Younge, also known as ‘Natta Boy,’ of Linden.
Commander of ‘B’ Division, Ian Amsterdam, told Stabroek News that an alert was sent to all of the stations so that the police in all of the districts can be on the lookout for De Younge.
The attack on Williamson took place on Thursday evening. At the time, De Younge was reported to have been dressed as a woman.
A close relative of the young woman, who asked not to be named, told Stabroek News that on Thursday evening the man was calling Williamson’s phone repeatedly to speak with his children. The couple share two sons, who are ages six and three.
According to the relative, Williamson had just arrived at where she was staying in New Street, New Amsterdam, when the man, from whom she had separated three months ago, carried out the attack.
“Around 9, I was at home, when she friend where she staying at call us and tell us Shondell just got burnt,” the relative said.
The relative added that Williamson managed to relate that she had seen De Younge. “She was in shock and did not know what to do ’cause she thought he was in Linden,” the relative said, while noting that the woman informed that the attack occurred very quickly.
“It happen so fast, she didn’t expect it. He was dressed in a woman’s clothing and to her, she was like, this can’t be Alfred,” she said, while adding that the man was hiding behind the house.
The relative said the man had the corrosive substance used to burn Williamson in a bottle and a bowl. “It was a lot—them just tell we acid, we don’t know exactly is what—the one he had in the bowl he dash on she and she started to holler, so he didn’t get enough time to throw the one in the bottle. He just run out, break the bottle on the road and he had a car waiting on him,” the relative added.
According to the woman, Williamson and De Younge had been together on and off for over eight years. “The relationship was violent. On many occasions she would have left him and they would be back together. Some of the instances she report to the police station and some she didn’t,” the woman noted. “She said on many occasions he kept telling her if he don’t have her, nobody can,” she added.
The man is reported to have previously operated a car wash in New Amsterdam; however, a while back he relocated his business to Linden.
The relative of Williamson stated that approximately three weeks ago, the woman visited Linden so that the man could spend some time with his children. However, when it was time for her to leave, he attacked her, by grabbing onto her throat. “When she wanted to come home he didn’t want her to come home and he choke her till she started to froth and became unconscious for a while. After froth start come out of her mouth, he realised what happening and then he tried to revive her,” the woman recounted, while noting that Williamson then “played nice” just so she could get away. “…And when he left, she packed up and came to Berbice,” she added.
According to the relative, lately Williamson was in contact with the man. “She was talking to him to tell him that the eldest child was misbehaving in school and that she doesn’t know what more to do, if he could take care of the eldest and she’s gonna take care of the youngest,” she said, while noting that the father had agreed to the plan.
