A female New York University student refused to be silent after being attacked on her way to class and posted the surveillance video online of her terrifying assault, bringing attention to it, resulting in the arrest of the alleged suspect.
In videos posted by NYU's Amelia Lewis on her social media account, the student shares the details of what happened on Monday on her way to class when someone came up behind her, hit her, and then yanked her to the ground.
NYU student assault pic.twitter.com/LxFhzmiafM
— Amelia Lewis (@AmeliaLewi33832) December 1, 2025
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"When I turned around, I saw this old, White guy and, like right when I turned around, he like grabbed my [ ….] hair like this and like yanked me and threw me to the ground," Lewis said.
Amelia credited her best friend with getting the surveillance footage from a nearby liquor store that she sent to NYU, which then sent it on to the NYPD.
She said it turns out the alleged attacker has done this before, and is suspected of other assaults on young ladies on/around the campus. Warning, there are a few "F" words throughout this video as she's clearly shaken up.
"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 explained.
"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 added. "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."
"That was honestly like the scariest experience of my life," Lewis continued. "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. You need to be aware at all times.
NYU Spokesperson John Beckman told Fox News the following:
The University is deeply disturbed by the attack on one of its female students that took place yesterday morning on a Broadway sidewalk. 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. 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."
Fox News reported that a "person of interest" was in custody.
A short time later, Lewis shared a post from Megyn Kelly, who shared that Lewis was a friend of a friend, about the NYPD arresting and charging a person suspected of the violent assault, 45-year-old James Rizzo.
Congrats to the @NYPDnews for MAKING AN ARREST of the accused NYU SEXUAL ABUSER - 45-year-old James Rizzo - who allegedly has been assaulting young women on/around campus! @AmeliaLewi33832 who bravely reported this crime and refused to allow herself to be a victim went public…
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) December 2, 2025
From the NYPD:
On Monday, December 1, 2025, at approximately 0922 hours, police responded to a 911 call of an assault in front of 735 Broadway within the confines of the 6th Precinct. Upon arrival, officers were informed an unidentified individual approached a 20-year-old female from behind, slapped her head, slapped her buttocks, and pulled her hair. The individual fled the location in an unknown direction. The investigation remains ongoing.
Pursuant to an ongoing investigation, the following individual was arrested and charged on December 2, 2025, in the confines of the 6th Precinct:
Arrested:
Rizzo, James
45 year old male
Charges:
Persistent Sexual Abuse
Forcible Touching
Assault
As Kelly stated, Lewis absolutely did the right thing here, even though she was scared. She was brave and not only reported the crime but refused to be a victim by going public with her story, allowing it not to get lost in the shuffle.
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