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A man named James Rizzo has been charged following a random attack on a New York University student in Greenwich Village. The incident occurred Monday morning along Broadway. The victim, a 20-year-old student named Amelia Lewis, was walking when Rizzo allegedly approached her from behind, pulling her hair and slapping her head and buttocks, causing her to fall. A group of women witnessed the attack and came to her aid, calling 911.
Rizzo, 45, who has a lengthy criminal history, was arrested on Tuesday and charged with several offenses, including persistent sexual abuse, forcible touching, and assault. According to ABC7NY, he was recently released from state prison after serving two years for persistent sexual abuse. Rizzo has been arrested 16 times before, including for a 1997 murder charge, the status of which remains unclear.
The NYPD connected Rizzo to the attack after responding to a report of a man sleeping in a building. They also charged him with burglary in the same building on four separate occasions. NYU is providing support to the victim, and university spokesperson John Beckman expressed relief that the suspect is in custody. Yahoo News reports that investigators are now examining whether Rizzo is linked to other attacks on female students at NYU.
Amelia Lewis expressed relief on social media, stating she feels safer knowing the perpetrator is in custody. She is scheduled to appear on a radio show later this week to discuss the incident.
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