A 31-year-old Florida man now faces attempted murder charges after police say he stabbed and choked his pregnant girlfriend while she curled into a ball on the ground to protect her unborn baby.
West Palm Beach police arrested D’Andre Burgess on Saturday, October 3, following an afternoon confrontation outside a local residence. Burgess faces charges of first-degree attempted premeditated murder, aggravated battery on a pregnant victim, and domestic battery by strangulation.
Officers arrived at the scene at 4:52 p.m. after receiving reports of an active stabbing. When they pulled up, Burgess’ mother met them outside to explain what had happened, just as the victim walked out of the house “covered in blood,” according to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by CBS 12.
The mother told investigators that Burgess and his girlfriend had just finished visiting their 1-year-old child and were standing outside together when the dispute broke out. The victim quickly warned the mother that Burgess was carrying a knife.
“The mother observed Burgess attack the victim by hitting her and grabbing her,” the affidavit stated. “During the attack, the mother observed blood on the victim and noticed Burgess holding a knife. The victim fell to the ground where Burgess got on top of her.”
The mother told police she could not pull Burgess off the victim, but she managed to wrestle the knife out of his hands. That gave the victim just enough of an opening to break free and run inside the house.
Burgess chased after her, forced his way back on top of her, and continued hitting her, according to the report. The mother tried once more to pull him away, but when she could not separate them, she called 911.
Emergency crews transported the woman to St. Mary’s Hospital under a trauma alert.
Speaking from her hospital bed, the victim told officers that Burgess had asked to “have a real conversation with her” before the assault began. She said he then shifted his clothing to reveal a knife tucked inside his waistband.
“Burgess advised the victim that they were both going to die or he was going to do one hundred years in jail,” the affidavit stated.
Fearing for her life, the victim said she slowly edged closer to the doorway, hoping the mother would overhear them. She tried to grab the weapon, but Burgess pulled it back just as his mother stepped outside to check on the commotion.
“The victim yelled to the mother that Burgess had a knife and was trying to kill her,” the affidavit said. “At that point, Burgess pulled the knife from the waistband and began to stab the victim. She dropped to the ground and curled in a ball to protect her unborn child.”
Once the victim managed to break free and flee indoors, Burgess followed her to a living room couch, grabbed her by the neck, and began strangling her. The victim said his grip was so tight she was “unable to talk and was gasping for air,” and that she “started to black out just as Burgess let go of her neck.”
Police confirmed the victim sustained lacerations to her neck, hand, breast, and kneecap. An update on her condition was not immediately available.
Burgess remains held without bond at the Palm Beach County Jail. Court records do not indicate whether he has entered a formal plea or retained an attorney. West Palm Beach police have not released any further updates.
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