A homeless man with an extensive criminal record has been arrested and charged after allegedly carrying out an unprovoked attack on a young New York University student in Manhattan.
Details of the Broadway Assault
James Rizzo, 45, was taken into custody and charged with persistent sexual abuse, forcible touching, and assault following the incident on Monday morning. The victim, 20-year-old Amelia Lewis, was reportedly wearing headphones when she was slapped from behind and dragged to the ground by her hair on a Broadway sidewalk.
Horrifying footage of the assault, later shared by family friend and SiriusXM host Megyn Kelly, shows bystanders looking on in shock as the attack unfolded. The assailant made a quick escape following the incident.
A History of Alleged Offences
Court records reveal that Rizzo has 16 prior arrests, including previous charges for sexual abuse and forcible touching. His rap sheet dates back to a murder charge in 1997. Most recently, he was accused of grabbing a woman's breasts in Manhattan on 27 December 2023, allegedly asking the victim: 'Oh, you want more?'
Rizzo had only been released from state prison in September, after serving a two-year sentence for another persistent sexual abuse conviction. Police are now investigating whether he may have assaulted other individuals, as Lewis claimed on social media that NYU staff identified the suspect as a serial attacker.
Institutional Response and Broader Concerns
NYU spokesman John Beckman told ABC 7 that the university was 'pleased that a suspect has been apprehended' and that they take 'this incident very seriously.' The Campus Safety Department assisted the victim and cooperated with police.
In a social media post, Amelia Lewis stated the man 'has been assaulting many girls around campus' and expressed her rage that such attacks can occur. Her comments appeared to reference newly elected Democratic Socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has proposed expanding violence interrupter programmes and mental health teams instead of traditional policing.
Meanwhile, federal authorities have lambasted New York's criminal justice system, revealing in a letter that the state has released nearly 7,000 criminal illegal migrants back onto the streets. The Department of Homeland Security warned that these individuals, accused of crimes including rape and murder, were granted bail or parole without warning to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
ICE Director Todd Lyons has demanded that New York Attorney General Letitia James guarantee the handover of 7,113 migrants with active detainers at the end of their sentences. However, New York's sanctuary laws prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with federal agents on immigration matters.
