A New York University student was attacked while walking to class in Manhattan earlier this week, and police say the man in custody is a repeat offender with a history of assaulting women. 

In an emotional video posted on social media, 20-year-old Amelia Lewis recounted the assault and demanded something be done to prevent the suspect from targeting others. 

"I never thought this was going to happen to me"

Surveillance video shows Lewis walking to class on Monday morning in Greenwich Village, when a man runs up behind her near Broadway and Waverly and appears to slap her on the backside and then shove her to the ground, knocking off her headphones.

Bystanders are seen frozen in shock before running to her aid.

"Just be aware when you're walking anywhere right now in New York. I never thought this was going to happen to me, because I've seen the stories and I was like, oh that's so scary. But having it actually happen now, it's like oh my God," Lewis said on her social media video.

Lewis then did her first interview, speaking on the "Megyn Kelly Show" on Sirius XM on Wednesday.

"I wanted to report this and after I did tell the cops, I let NYU security know to let students know that this man is going around doing this to other women," Lewis said. "They also told me they were already aware of the man in the blue towel around his neck running around the city.

"It's really sad. This is something that happens all the time in New York, and I really want to make sure I use my voice and keep others protected and also help other girls that have maybe gone through the same experience as I," she added.   

Suspect was on parole after sex abuse sentence

Police arrested 45-year-old James Rizzo in the attack and charged him with persistent sexual abuse, forcible touching and assault. According to the New York State Department of Corrections, Rizzo, who police sources say is homeless and has 16 prior arrests, was out on parole after serving time for sex abuse.

Police said Rizzo is also facing charges stemming from a string of four residential burglaries in Manhattan in the early morning hours on Tuesday, as well as two additional and unrelated attacks on women, including the random punching of a 59-year-old woman on Mercer Street in December 2023.

The other attack involved 68-year-old Dianne Brazell, of Houston, who was in New York last week for Thanksgiving. She said she was walking with her family on Fifth Avenue in Midtown when, out of nowhere, a man started screaming obscenities in her face.

"And then he seemed to step back for a moment. I thought he was going to leave, and the next thing I knew, I was slammed into a plate glass," Brazell said.

She was dazed and bruised as people scrambled to help her.

"I have a laceration in my forehead that required six stitches. I have a bruise on my left leg from my knee to my ankle," she said. "I have a bruise on my left shoulder. I bit my tongue."

Despite the attack, Brazell said she has no problem returning to New York. In fact, she was overwhelmed by all the support she got.

"It just renewed my faith that even though there are some very bad people among us, there are many more wonderful people," she said.

Rizzo was expected to be arraigned in a Manhattan courtroom on Wednesday night.

Video leaves NYU students on edge

On NYU's campus on Tuesday and Wednesday, nearly every young woman had seen the disturbing video.

"My dad sent it to me. He was like, 'You've got to stop walking around with your noise-canceling headphones on, because it could be you in another world,'" student Jules Fang said.

"It was really disgusting to see that happen, because she was literally just like minding her business," Victoria Valenzuela said.

"I think it's kind of scary in New York City to be a woman," Ella Filler said. "I'm actually hoping my parents never see the video because they would freak out."

"Something happens like that and you just get on your toes a little bit more because you never know what's gonna happen," Bela Ahn added.

An NYU spokesperson responded to the incident, saying the school takes it seriously and is continuing to offer support to Lewis.