Syracuse, N.Y. – A Syracuse woman and two unidentified men broke into a home and held two children at gunpoint over a missing package, police said.
Luz Dashnau, 40, was arrested Wednesday in connection with a home invasion on March 5, according to a criminal complaint filed in Syracuse City Court.
Around 1 a.m., Dashnau and two masked men broke into the apartment of her upstairs neighbor, Shirlitra McWilliams, on the 600 block of Gifford Street. Dashnau grabbed McWilliams’ daughter and a man grabbed her son, according to a statement to police.
Dashnau began yelling at McWilliams, her boyfriend and her children about a package that was supposed to be delivered that morning but was missing.
The two men with Dashnau were pointing guns at the family as she was yelling about the package, McWilliams told police. Dashnau repeatedly said that the package was for work, McWilliams said.
Dashnau then began beating McWilliams in front of her children and boyfriend. Dashnau also “pistol whipped” McWilliams during the attack, according to court documents.
McWilliams told Dashnau she didn’t know anything about the package. Eventually, Dashnau and the two men left the apartment.
Dashnau is charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child.
She is currently being held in the Onondaga County Justice Center jail without bail.
Staff writer Anne Hayes covers breaking news, crime and public safety. You can reach her at ahayes@syracuse.com.