BEVERLY — The woman who was attacked inside a Beverly Farms pizza shop endured a terrifying ordeal that included her assailant firing a gun into the ceiling, then pointing it at her head and saying, "I am going to kill you," according to police.
Details of Wednesday's incident at Harry's Pizza & Deli were included in a filing yesterday in Salem District Court, where Ilirian Piku of Peabody was arraigned on 10 charges, including assault with intent to murder.
Piku, wearing a short-sleeve yellow shirt and handcuffs, did not speak during the hearing. His attorney, William Delaney, entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. Judge Richard Mori ordered him held without bail in Middleton Jail until a dangerousness hearing on May 29.
Police say the attack by Piku, who was born in Albania and lives at 18 Harris St. in Peabody, was a case of domestic violence. He and his victim live together and both work at Harry's Pizza, according to the police report. The report blacked out the victim's name and her relationship to Piku.
According to the police narrative of the incident, the 44-year-old Piku arrived at 8:40 a.m. at Harry's Pizza, a small store on Hale Street in the quiet Beverly Farms village across the street from the Beverly Farms fire station.
The victim, who was working at the back of the shop, saw Piku open the front door with his key. Piku walked up to the woman and asked if she needed any help. She ignored him.
Piku reached for the woman's cell phone on a nearby table and began sliding it away from her. When she reached for the phone, Piku hit her on the back of the head, the report states.
When the woman turned around to tell him to stop, Piku punched her in the face and stomach several times, causing her to bleed, according to the report.
Piku grabbed the woman by the hair, fired a shot into the ceiling with a small revolver and said, "I am going to kill you." Piku then pointed the gun at the woman and repeated, "I am going to kill you." Piku also said the woman "did not fear or respect him," the police report said.
Piku ordered the woman to perform a sex act on him and slapped her as she pleaded for her life, the police report said. He then ordered her into the bathroom to clean the blood off her face.
When the woman agreed to meet Piku at home later that afternoon, he left the store. The woman then called her father, saying she feared Piku would kill her if she called police. The woman's father said he would call police if she didn't.
While the woman was waiting for police to arrive, Piku called her on her cell phone, "acting as if nothing happened," the police report said.
Piku was arrested later that day by Peabody police at the Peabody Coffee House, where he was known by police to hang out. Peabody police found a loaded and cocked .357-caliber handgun in his vehicle.
This was not the first time Beverly police had responded to a domestic violent incident involving Piku at Harry's Pizza, according to the police report. Peabody police had also responded to domestic violence incidents involving Piku, the report said.
Piku was arrested on New Year's Day in 2008 following a fight near the Peabody Coffee House and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a shod foot).
Police recovered a blood-stained shirt and apron from Harry's Pizza as evidence. The Massachusetts State Police Ballistics Unit searched for the bullet in the ceiling but could not find it. The bullet appears to have ricocheted and ended up in the sub-floor of the apartment above the business, the report said.
Piku was also arraigned yesterday in Peabody District Court on charges filed by Peabody police, including leaving a firearm in a motor vehicle, unlawful possession of ammunition, and receiving stolen property over $250. Police say the gun was stolen.
Piku is due back in Peabody District Court on May 27.
Staff writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2675 or by e-mail at pleighton@salemnews.com.
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