Tracy Barrett Jr. assaults girlfriend, tells her “I want to see you get mad”

27-year-old Tracy Barrett Jr. had an altercation with his girlfriend, Shunika Rooks, at her Andrew Jackson Way apartment on the afternoon of February 9th. Officers were dispatched to Summit Flowers & Gifts, where they spoke with Rooks. Rooks stated that around 2 p.m., she was sitting on the edge of her bed when Barrett Jr. poked her, stating, “I want to see you get mad.” Rooks said he punched her in the face and placed his hands around her neck, strangling her and making it difficult to breathe. Rooks said she nearly lost consciousness but was able to fight back by scratching and biting Barrett Jr., which caused him to release his hands from her throat. When she escaped his grasp, she went to the kitchen, where Barrett Jr. followed and then struck her on the side of the face. Then, Rooks said Barrett Jr. hugged her from behind and tried to apologize. She told him to let her go, but he refused, so she grabbed a metal spatula and swung it over her head, hitting his head, which was when he released her. After this, Rooks exited the apartment, got into her car, and fled from Barrett Jr. When officers spoke with her, they noticed she had a black eye and scratch marks on her nose, the right side of her forehead, and her right wrist. Barrett Jr. was taken into custody for aggravated assault on March 19th.