Assault Suspect Arrested Following Attacks on NYU Students

A man has been arrested in connection to an assault on a New York University (NYU) student and is now facing additional charges related to other random assaults in Manhattan, as well as a burglary of off-campus housing.

James Rizzo, aged 45, was taken into custody and charged with multiple offenses including forcible touching, persistent sexual abuse, and assault after a reported attack on 20-year-old Amelia Lewis. This incident occurred Monday morning, as detailed by the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

Authorities released security camera footage showing Rizzo, a Level 2 sex offender, approaching Lewis from behind, where he assaulted her by hitting her on the head, slapping her backside, and pulling her hair before fleeing the scene.

“I turned around and saw this old white man, and just as I turned around, he grabbed me by the hair and pulled me and threw me to the ground,” Lewis said in a social media video.

The alleged assault came just days after Rizzo reportedly shoved another woman on a New York City street.

His previous arrests reportedly number 16, and among them is an incident from Thanksgiving, where he allegedly assaulted 68-year-old Yana Diane Brazell. She recounted that Rizzo approached her and uttered something bizarre before pushing her forcefully, causing her significant injury.

The entire encounter lasted “six seconds,” Brazell noted, during which she was elbowed and fell, requiring six stitches afterward.

Rizzo’s Arrests Continue

Rizzo was arrested again on Tuesday after being caught breaking into a residence associated with NYU. Reports indicated he had unlawfully entered several apartments around Washington Square Park, stealing electronic devices, luggage, and other possessions totaling approximately $3,150. Authorities managed to recover one of the stolen laptops still located within the building.

During his arraignment, Rizzo’s attorney made a case for supervised release due to his ongoing struggles with housing instability and mental health. Since his release from prison in September, he has reportedly failed to meet with his parole officer. Rizzo has been ordered to remain in custody without bail, and a judge has also requested a psychiatric evaluation for him while in detention.

The NYPD and NYU have not yet commented on the situation.