Woman broke cast-iron frying pan over boyfriend’s head in front of police officer

A Burlington woman pleaded guilty on Monday to breaking a frying pan over a man’s head during a fight last spring. Nigeria Shayan Hoover, 18, of Wilkins Street, Burlington, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury after a Burlington police officer watched her smash a cast-iron frying pan over her boyfriend’s head March 30. Police were responding to the 1910 Wilkins Street residence following a 911 hangup.

When the officer arrived, he saw Hoover and Kendall Jackson through a window. Jackson was sitting in a chair and Hoover was over him, suspending an object that appeared to be a plate above the man’s head, said Alamance County Assistant D.A. Lori Wickline. The officer entered the residence, Hoover thanked him for coming and then hit Jackson over the head with the pan, breaking it into three pieces, Wickline said. Jackson was hospitalized after the officer noticed blood on his head and saw the man go glassy-eyed.

His speech was also slurred during initial questioning, Wickline said. Hoover allegedly told officers she hoped Jackson had died from his injuries and that she “wished there was a way to take him out without getting into trouble.” She felt threatened by him, Hoover also allegedly told police. Defence Attorney Christopher Watkins said that before police arrived, Jackson allegedly hit his client after she told him to leave the property. He left briefly, then came back into the house.

When she tried to dial 911, Jackson also smashed her phone against a wall, resulting in the 911-hangup police responded to, he said. “She regrets what happened. She is staying away from Kendall Jackson,” Watkins told Superior Court Judge Wayne Abernathy. Hoover is on disability and receives counselling, Watkins said. Abernathy issued a suspended 15- to 27-month sentence and placed Hoover on 12 months’ supervised probation. He ordered her to have no contact with Jackson and to pay court costs and $450 in attorney fees. Because she is on disability, he waived probation supervision fees.