Fort Thompson Man Gets 8 Years for Brutal Assaults & Robbery

FORT THOMPSON, SD – AbuBarker Shabbaz-Evans, 25, of Fort Thompson, South Dakota, will spend the next eight years in federal prison following his sentencing on August 31, 2020, for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Robbery. Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange of the U.S. District Court handed down the 96-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release. Shabbaz-Evans was also ordered to pay a $200 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The case, spearheaded by Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley, stemmed from two separate incidents of brazen violence. A federal grand jury indicted Shabbaz-Evans, also known as Abu Barker Evans, on January 14, 2020, and he subsequently entered a guilty plea on June 16, 2020. The evidence painted a picture of a man quick to resort to force and intimidation.

The first incident, occurring on September 15, 2019, involved a brutal roadside assault. Shabbaz-Evans forcibly removed a victim from their vehicle and proceeded to repeatedly strike them in the head and face with a metal object shaped like a pistol. He then stole the vehicle, leaving the victim with a slight nasal fracture. The callousness of the attack shocked local investigators.

Just months later, on January 1, 2020, Shabbaz-Evans attempted to rob two individuals at the Crow Creek C-Store. He demanded pre-paid gasoline, brandishing a metal gun-shaped object in his waistband and threatening the victims if they didn’t comply. Fortunately, quick-thinking onlookers intervened, preventing the robbery from escalating further. The attempted theft underscored Shabbaz-Evans’ escalating pattern of criminal behavior.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, meticulously gathering evidence that ultimately led to Shabbaz-Evans’ conviction. The FBI’s work ensured that a dangerous individual was removed from the streets of South Dakota. The U.S. Marshals Service immediately took Shabbaz-Evans into custody following the sentencing, transporting him to begin his lengthy prison term.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of violent crime. U.S. Attorney Ron Parsons made it clear that his office will continue to aggressively prosecute individuals who endanger the safety and well-being of communities in South Dakota. Shabbaz-Evans’ actions have earned him a significant prison sentence, and hopefully, a chance to reflect on the harm he has caused.

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