A 20-year-old Gainesville woman was arrested last month after allegedly breaking into a home in Old Town and fighting with a witness who is set to testify against her boyfriend in a murder trial.
Essence Amir Heard was arrested on the early morning of April 9 after allegedly breaking into a home in the 800 block of Montgomery Street in the Braddock area. Hours before, the murder suspect called the victim, who has a child with him, after he was informed that his trial would be moving forward after court delays due to COVID-19, and that she would be subpoenaed as a witness.
“After learning of this, he repeatedly called (the victim) from jail cursing and threatening her,” police said in a search warrant. “On the phone during these conversations was Ms. Essence heard, his current girlfriend.”
Later that night, the victim awoke to hear loud banding on her front door, and heard her name being screamed. She dressed and went to her living room and then saw Heard allegedly assaulting two other women with closed fists inside the house.
“All four girls were then involved in a physical fight until they were able to get Ms. Heard outside,” police said in the search warrant. “Once there, they told her they were calling the police, and she walked away.”
Heard was found at the intersection of Madison Street and N. Alfred Street, and as she was arrested told officers that she left her phone in the victim’s house.
Heard was charged with entering a house to commit assault and battery and was released that same day. She was later arrested on April 23 on a fugitive from justice charge and was transferred to another jurisdiction, according to the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office.
Heard goes to court for the offense on May 14.