Convicted felon held on $10 million for 'gruesome' beating of Bridgeport mom and kids, additional charges likely

Abdulrahim Sulaiman, 38, was arraigned in Bridgeport Superior Court Thursday on three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault, two counts of risk of injury to a child and criminal possession of a firearm.

Marissa Alter

Sep 26, 2024, 10:16 PM

Updated 7 days ago

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A Bridgeport man accused of brutally beating his wife and her two young kids with a baseball bat has a violent criminal history and was on probation at the time of his latest arrest, according to court records.
Abdulrahim Sulaiman, 38, was arraigned in Bridgeport Superior Court Thursday on three counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault, two counts of risk of injury to a child and criminal possession of a firearm.
Sulaiman was led into court surrounded by several marshals. His hair covered his face for the entirety of the 12-minute hearing.
“The strength of the state's case is extremely strong. The facts are gruesome to say the least,” stated Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Craig Nowak.
On Wednesday morning just before 10 a.m., police responded to the victims’ apartment at the corner of Main Street and Capital Avenue after receiving multiple 911 calls, including one from Sulaiman's wife.
"Please help! He's hitting us with a bat! My kids! My kids! My son! Please help us! Please! Please!" she begged, according to the police report, which noted screaming and banging in the background of the call.
Arriving officers arrested Sulaiman as he was walking away from the building. Police said the two boys, ages 4 and 6 , had to be airlifted to the hospital and the older one was initially unresponsive.
“I can disclose that the likelihood of survival of this individual is close to zero,” Nowak told the court. “At that point in time, if and when this individual dies, the state of Connecticut is prepared and will be filing information for murder with special circumstances.”
Sulaiman’s wife told police said he’d accused her of cheating on him and had been smoking PCP for days, the report stated. She also said he previously beat her and threatened to kill her and her children.
According to the report, police searched the apartment and found a handgun wrapped in a blanket in the kitchen area.
“The defendant has a past history of violence, not just in this state but in the state of New Jersey where he did seven years for aggravated assault,” Nowak said.
Sulaiman has several prior convictions in Connecticut. In September 2022, he pleaded guilty to assault of a police officer, risk of injury to a child and violation of a protective order. He was sentenced to two years in prison and four years of probation. Sulaiman was also previously convicted of engaging police in a pursuit, larceny and drug possession.
Judge Maureen Dennis called the allegations in this case “gruesome and vicious” before she set Sulaiman’s bond at $10 million. She said if Sulaiman can post that amount, he'll have to wear two GPS bracelets and be on house arrest.
“So, you want to monitor me when I'm outside? Yes, I would like to have the GPS on me,” Sulaiman mumbled before public defender Cristina Angelone stopped him from talking.
Dennis also ordered him to have no contact with the three victims.
Sulamain's next court date is Oct. 10, but it is possible he will go before a judge before then, even as soon as Friday.
“This individual, while down in lockup, slapped one of the marshals in the face and then spit on one of the other marshals, thus allegedly committing another crime of an assault on a police officer, which the Connecticut State Police will be investigating today,” Nowak said. “I assume we'll be back here tomorrow with this individual for another arraignment.”