Trio Broke Into Nassau Apartment And Stole Shotgun: Police

Three people were arrested on Thursday after police say the broke into a Hempstead apartment, assaulted a resident there and stole his gun.

According to police, Darnell Lapierre, 25, of Manor Avenue, Hempstead; Shamel Abernathy, 29, of Norfolk, Virginia; and Jovette Sturdivant, 28, of Terrace Avenue, Hempstead entered an apartment on Terrace Avenue through an open front door just after 10:45 a.m. Once inside, police say that the three began assaulting a man and woman who were in the apartment. Lapierre and Abernathy forced the man to give them a shotgun from his bedroom, police said, and then the three fled the apartment. As they were leaving, police say Sturdivant deliberately broke a glass table.

Police say that officers later located the three walking on Van Cott Avenue, where they were all placed under arrest. Police say that Lapierre was in possession of the shotgun when he was arrested. While in custody, police say that Sturdivant spit in the face of a police officer.

The woman in the apartment was taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Lapierre was charged with second-degree robbery, second-degree burglary, fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property, third-degree assault and had an active warrant at the time of his arrest.

Sturdivant is charged with second-degree robbery, second-degree burglary, third-degree criminal mischief, third-degree assault and second-degree harassment.

Abernathy was charged with second-degree robbery, second-degree burglary and third-degree assault.

All three are scheduled to be arraigned on Friday in First District Court in Hempstead.

Shamel Abernathy, left, Jovette Sturdivant and Darnell Lapierre. Photos courtesy Nassau County Police Department.