Acid Attack on New York College Student
A former boyfriend allegedly orchestrated a brutal acid attack that injured a young college student in New York, according to prosecutors. The accused, Shaquille Koch, 31, has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including first-degree assault, related to the attack on a 21-year-old woman outside her home in Elmont. His arrest occurred in Brooklyn, as stated by Nassau County police.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly described Koch as a “jealous, possessive and sensitive ex-lover” who plotted this aggressive act following the end of their relationship. Donnelly mentioned that Koch acted with an accomplice, Terrell Campbell, 29, to execute what she called a “vicious and vengeful attack” aimed at disfiguring the woman.
The incident took place on March 17, 2021, as the victim was coming home from work with her mother. While the victim was retrieving items from her car, Campbell allegedly approached her, masked and cloaked, and hurled a cup containing sulfuric acid at her.
The corrosive liquid severely burned her face and body, affected her throat, and splashed into her eyes. She collapsed on her lawn and was taken to the hospital, where doctors treated her for serious burns on her face, arms, shoulders, eyes, and esophagus.
The assault left the victim, Nafia Ikram, nearly blind and struggling with basic functions like speaking and eating shortly after the incident. Her father described the attack as a deliberate ambush rather than a random act of violence, suggesting that Koch had waited for his daughter to return home before carrying out the attack.
Ikram, an aspiring doctor attending Hofstra University, suffered significant injuries, making it difficult for her to care for herself in the days that followed. The family expressed their shock and dismay, stating there were “no known enemies” before the attack.
Investigators suggested that Koch had coordinated with Campbell and possibly acted as the getaway driver. In the lead-up to the assault, Koch allegedly engaged in a disturbing pattern of harassment, including creating a fake social media account to taunt the victim about their relationship. He reportedly used a spoof phone number to send her inappropriate messages and even mocked her injuries, referring to her as “Freddy Krueger.” Furthermore, he expressed a desire for something “catastrophic” to happen to her.
Campbell was arrested earlier this year and also faces similar charges, having pleaded not guilty. Both men, who attended high school together, could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Koch, who remains in custody without bail, is next scheduled to appear in court on April 20, 2026.
