CBS2 Exclusive: Staten Island Mother Speaks After Terrifying Home Invasion
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A newborn was placed in danger on Staten Island this weekend, as strangers burst into a mother's bedroom and prompted her to grab a knife.
CBS2's Dave Carlin spoke exclusively to the mother Saturday night.
"I don't want to be here," said Staten Island North Shore resident and single Shawntay Williams.
Williams gave birth to her second son just this past Wednesday. She and her two sons are the only ones who live in her apartment on Bowen Street, but around 3 a.m. Saturday, uninvited company dropped in through an unlocked bedroom window from the fire escape.
"My son was here and I have another son right here, and I was laying back, and I woke up and I felt somebody breathing on me," Williams said.
A few inches from Williams' face was a stranger in his late teens or early 20s wearing a hoodie. Williams said the first suspect shouted to three other invaders rummaging in the baby's room, "She's up! She's up!"
The first suspect ran to join the others as Williams weighed her options.
"I hurry up and pick my baby up, and then I ran in the kitchen and get a knife," she said.
Williams said she was glad not to have to use the knife. She saw a clear path to her front door.
"I have my baby in my hand. I run over here, (my other son is) sleeping. I take him. I drag him. He's dragging on the floor," Williams said. "I open up the door, and then I just drag him out in the hallway."
Williams knocked on doors and tried to wake up neighbors. After getting no answers, she went to the door of building superintendent. Jose Cubias.
"He said go downstairs to the security guard and make the 911 phone call, and then I went down to the security desk," Williams said.
CBS2 caught up with Cubias and pointed out that Williams said he did not let her inside. Williams said she had to call 911 herself.
Security cameras are just feet away from the fire escape the home invaders used to get into the apartment. But the cameras only cover a parking lot, and not the activity on the fire escape.
Williams wonders what the home invaders were after and why she and her family were chosen. Some money and credit cards were taken.
But Williams said: "I think they wanted the baby. To me, that's the first impression I'm getting."
After a fright of a night, Williams vowed her family would never spend another one in the apartment.