Alleged Steve Buscemi Attacker Arrested, Charged With Assault After NYC Incident
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A 50-year-old man named Clifton Williams was arrested and charged with assault in the second degree Friday after allegedly attacking actor Steve Buscemi in New York City, police confirm to Rolling Stone.
Williams was arraigned the following day, May 18, with the judge setting bail at $50,000. It was not immediately clear if Williams had retained an attorney, or been assigned a public defender, according to The Associated Press. He is set to return to court on Thursday, May 23.
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The criminal complaint revealed that there was surveillance cam footage of Buscemi being hit. It also stated that Williams had punched two people, but the alleged victims were not named.
The arrest comes over a week after the 66-year-old actor was punched in the face and transported to the hospital by emergency services to treat bleeding, swelling, and bruising in his left eye. On Friday, New York police confirmed to Rolling Stone that the alleged assailant was arrested at 2:20 p.m. within the confines of the 13th Precinct.
A rep for Buscemi did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the arrest. The actor’s publicist, however, confirmed the attack in a statement to Rolling Stone last week.
“Steve Buscemi was assaulted in Midtown Manhattan, another victim of a random act of violence in the city,” they said. “He is OK and appreciates everyone’s well wishes, though incredibly sad for everyone that this has happened to while also walking the streets of New York.”
Earlier this week, NYPD released images of the alleged assailant to help locate the suspect.
Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder reacted to the news of Buscemi’s attack during a concert in Sacramento on Monday. “Who the fuck does that to Steve Buscemi?” Vedder asked the crowd, according to the San Jose Mercury News. “I mean, hit me — don’t hit him.”
According to the NYPD’s crime statistics report least week, reported misdemeanor assault complaints in the city have increased 6.9 percent in 2024 from 2023, while felony assault complaints have increased 4 percent citywide.
In April, a 27-year-old man was charged with assault after throwing a rock at Buscemi’s Boardwalk Empire co-star Michael Stuhlbarg during an attack in New York’s Central Park. The assailant was taken into custody and Stuhlbarg reportedly declined medical attention.
This story was updated 5/20/24 with information regarding Williams’ arraignment and bond.
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