New Kensington woman accused of breaking into former home, strangling woman there

A New Kensington woman is charged with breaking into the house where she previously lived and strangling a woman who now lives there.

Nazhae Vicki Nico Banks, 25, of the 1900 block of Victoria Avenue, is charged with felony counts of burglary, strangulation and criminal trespass as well as one count of simple assault.

She was released from custody on a $5,000 unsecured bond and faces a preliminary hearing before District Judge Frank J. Pallone Jr. on Thursday, May 5, according to court records.

Police responding to a call for a burglary in progress in the 1300 block of Leishman Avenue shortly before 3:30 a.m. on April 23. They found Banks outside the house holding her arm, which was bleeding from a puncture wound, according to a criminal complaint.

An ambulance was dispatched to the scene to tend to Banks’ wound before transporting her to Allegheny Valley Hospital for additional treatment, police said.

Investigators said Banks refused to tell them how she was hurt, saying only that she wanted to retrieve her keys and cellphone from inside the house.

The woman who called police said she received multiple text messages from Banks in which Banks said she was coming to the house to retrieve her belongings.

The woman told police she wasn’t home when she received the texts. When she arrived home, she found Banks in her bedroom and confronted her, the complaint said.

She said Banks “immediately began choking her ” with her hands to the point where she could not breathe, but that she was able to push her off.

She said she grabbed a pair of scissors from a nearby nightstand to defend herself and stabbed Banks in the arm when Banks rushed toward her, according to the complaint.

The woman said she called police as Banks was leaving.

Investigators said the woman had scratches on her elbows and red pressure marks around her throat, told them it was the second time Banks broke into the house..