Support Among Friends
A recent attack on Amelia Lewis, a college student at New York University, has brought attention to the issue of assaults faced by women in the city. Interestingly, her friend, Summer Armstrong, who was also attacked in New York earlier this year, was the one who captured the viral video that helped authorities apprehend the suspect involved in Amelia’s case.
“When I saw Amelia’s email, I felt a wave of nausea in class,” Summer shared during an interview on SiriusXM. “It was a strange mix of disbelief and empathy—this had happened to me too. Thankfully, I had the footage.”
Summer recounted her own experience, noting an incident back in May where she was assaulted, and her assailant remains at large. “I didn’t manage to catch him, but I quickly knew that having the video was crucial,” she explained. “My instinct was to get that footage and find this guy.”
On the morning of the recent attack against Amelia, Summer hurried to a nearby liquor store, where the incident took place. She said, “I told Amelia, ‘Check out the footage from my attack. We might find something useful.’” And that’s exactly what they did.
The footage quickly gained traction online and was shared by various accounts, including former Fox News host Megyn Kelly. This visibility significantly aided the police in identifying James Rizzo, an ex-convict charged with multiple offenses, including persistent sexual abuse.
Rizzo, identified as a repeat offender with a troubling history, was awaiting arraignment after being arrested just hours later. Amelia expressed cautious optimism, stating, “I really hope this arrest means something. The police mentioned they were investigating a guy with a blue towel, so perhaps our efforts made a difference.”
Following his arrest, Rizzo faced additional charges relating to assaults on other victims, including a 68-year-old retired professor who was visiting New York. Witness accounts, like that of Jana Diane Brazell, revealed disturbing details of recent attacks, highlighting the systemic issues surrounding public safety in the city.
Rizzo’s long history with the law dates back to his teenage years, and he had only recently been released from prison for a sexual assault conviction before these latest incidents. Summer emphasized the critical importance of sharing these stories, as both she and Amelia want to raise awareness: “I never imagined this could happen to me,” Amelia told Kelly. “But these events occur all the time.”
She added, “I hope to encourage others to speak up and help protect girls who might face similar situations.” There’s a lot to unpack here, and as more stories unfold, it’s evident that healing and solidarity are key.
