A New York University student has come forward with a harrowing account of an attack she endured on her way to class. Captured on disturbing surveillance footage, the incident has resonated across social media after the victim, Amelia Lewis, shared her experience.
In a pair of videos uploaded to her social media, Lewis detailed the frightening encounter. She recounted how an unidentified man followed her as she walked along Broadway, eventually confronting her with unexpected violence. “When I turned around, I saw this older, White man. Right when I turned around, he grabbed my hair and yanked me to the ground,” Lewis described.
The surveillance video, obtained by a friend from a nearby liquor store, shows Lewis being assisted by a group of girls who rushed to her aid after the attack. Their quick response helped her regain composure after the shocking incident.
Lewis provided a description of her attacker, identifying him as a tall man with long brown hair and a beard. He was reportedly wearing gray sweatpants, a black puffer jacket, and had a blue towel draped around his neck.
This unsettling event has sparked discussions about urban safety and the resilience of young students in the face of such adversity. As the investigation continues, the NYU community remains vigilant and supportive of Lewis during this challenging time.
Lewis said the surveillance video was obtained by a friend of hers from a nearby liquor store. She described the assailant as a tall man with long brown hair and a long brown beard, wearing gray sweatpants, a black puffer jacket and a blue towel around his neck.
The college student said she sent the video to NYU security, who said they were forwarding the footage to police.
“The University is deeply disturbed by the attack on one of its female students that took place yesterday morning on a Broadway sidewalk,” NYU Spokesperson John Beckman told Fox News. “We take this incident very seriously; we are offering support to the student, and NYU’s Campus Safety Department is working with the police in investigating the incident.”
“The incident was reported to our Department of Campus Safety yesterday afternoon,” Beckman added. “The department’s victim services unit promptly reached out to the student; they have assisted her in connecting with detectives from the local precinct. Campus Safety investigators are looking through video footage from NYU cameras to see if there is additional footage that can be provided to the police to help identify and track down the assailant.”
New York University’s campus buildings are seen in Greenwich Village, New York City, on July 7, 2024. (Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“I just really want to emphasize how not OK this is. I am a student at NYU. I should not be scared to be walking the street to go to my 9:30 a.m. class. These people are disgusting, and they should not be able to be walking around the street freely targeting girls and doing this. Cause I heard that this guy did this a month ago,” Lewis said in the video.
“I’m honestly still in shock, but I’m more enraged that things like this are able to happen in this city and we really need to do something about it because this is unacceptable,” she continued. “This just shows that you really need to reflect on who you’re voting for and supporting right now because New York needs help, and we’re just not getting the help we need, and this is crazy.”
The NYPD confirmed to Fox News Digital that a person of interest was in custody.
The Empire State Building towers above other largely empty office buildings on March 4, 2021, in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Lewis warned other women at the university to be careful and aware while walking around the city.
“That was honestly like the scariest experience of my life,” she said. “I never thought this was going to happen to me just cuz I’ve seen the stories, and I was like, oh that’s so scary, but having it actually happen now, it’s like oh my god.”
