St. Albans Son Indicted For The Beating Death Of An Attempted Burglar

193-41 Williamson Ave. in St. Albans. Photo via Google Maps.

By Christina Carrega

A Queens judge set $20,000 bail for a 27-year-old man who was indicted by a grand jury for causing the death of an attempted home invader using a bat and knife in July.

Joel Christopher Paul was inside his home on Williamson Avenue in St. Albans on July 30 when his mother alerted him around 3 a.m. that someone was trying to break in.

Paul, 27, told detectives at the time that he took a knife and a bat from his bedroom and handed the bat to his 16-year-old brother.

When Paul and the younger sibling went outside the house, they confronted Shamel Shavuo in the driveway. Shavuo, 44 of Maryland, allegedly told the brothers that he was coming inside their house before slugging the elder Paul.

“He knocked my glasses off. I stabbed him with the knife. My brother hit him in the back with the bat,” Paul said to detectives according to court documents. “I took the bat from my brother and hit him (Shavuo) until he wasn’t a threat anymore.”

Shavou’s death was ruled a homicide in July and neither brother was arrested. A Queens grand jury indicted Paul with first-degree manslaughter and two charges of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon charges.

Queens Supreme Court Justice John Zoll arraigned Paul on Monday and set bail at $20,000 cash or bond. Paul, who has not posted bail as of press time, is expected back in court on Thursday in front of Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Aloise.

If convicted, Paul faces up to 25 years in prison.