Emmy award-winning actor Steve Buscemi, 66, was walking along a Manhattan street just before noon on May 8, 2024 when he was sucker punched by a random stranger, who fled the scene. On Tuesday evening the NYPD released photos (seen above) of the suspect, identifying him as 50-year-old Clifton Williams. Williams was seen on CCTV footage talking to himself just before the attack.
The Boardwalk Empire star sustained bruising, swelling and bleeding around his left eye. Paramedics arrived and took him to Bellevue Hospital, where he was treated. His publicist released the following statement via email: "Steve Buscemi was assaulted in Mid-Town Manhattan, another victim of a random act of violence in the city. 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 NY."
Buscemi is a former NYC firefighter who returned to duty to help members of his old team at the World Trade Center during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Random attacks in NYC have been common lately -- in March, Michael Stuhlbarg, 55, who co-starred with Buscemi in Boardwalk Empire, was going for a run in Central Park when he was hit by a rock in the back of his neck. Stuhlbarg turned and chased his attacker, 27-year-old Xavier Israel, a homeless man who was taken into custody outside the park. Israel has a criminal record for assault and robbery, including attacking a good samaritan who had just given him a coat.
In the past few weeks, police said that a number of random attacks, mostly on women, have been reported, resulting in six arrests so far. At least 25 women have shared stories on TikTok of being randomly assaulted in NYC while walking along a street. ~Alexandra Heilbron
This is disgusting. No one should be attacked while merely walking down the street. And to an awesome dude like Steve Buscemi. I hope they catch the guy.
all these guys just FRY their asses sit them down press the button and SAP I love it when I talk dirty like that no but seriously in most if not all cases the culprit always comes out winning you figure it out that's the beautiful world we live in you all have a nice day
me again another thing he was talking to himself prior the attack, HELLO the man is not correct up there some bolts are loose what the heck is he doing walking the streets waiting to get his next victim could be YOU think about it remember LONNEY TUNES its not just a kids show
Unfortunately these attacks are happening everywhere around the world. It seems that as government agencies cease helping people with mental problems and send them out into the streets to "live" these things will be happening more and more often. I do not think things will improve unless enough money becomes available to care for the lost people. As long as politicians continue to reduce taxes this will NEVER happen.
The world is a sad place.
I agree with the above statements from Mike. The government is causing all this chaos even in Canada. It is so bad that criminals have more rights than we do!! Cars get stolen everyday and IF they do catch them the criminals are out of bail just to do AGAIN!! The stupid poiticians who run our governments get told over & over again at how bad things have become. YET they can give themselves all kinds of raises, create scandals that NO ONE is held accountable for no matter how much evidence there is, drugs have become rampant as well as suicide, people are living in tents, can't afford food, barely keeping their houses afloat, gas is high, etc. etc. It is time these dam politicians of all political stripes be it in the USA, Canada, wherever to stop this chaos and nonsense!!! We are seeing more of these attacks on the innocent and we are all sick of it!! We need rehabs for the people on drugs, mental help, homes for the homeless etc. This is why people are committing crimes they as we all feel there is NO WAY OUT of this chaos!!!!!!
i have a son with drug induced schitzophrenia in montana, it is impossible to get people here the medical treatment they need or getting them admitted to a mental hospital is almost impossible it goes against their right to freedom. we are seeing an increase in marijuana induced phychosis in our small town in our teen young men, our county is a dry county but still those that bought their medical card are selling to middle grade schoolers...it is a vicious cycle. even people who want help can not get into a mental health facility, the police say it needs to be the drs, the drs say the police can do it and the shrinks say go to your county attorney... meanwhile they walk the streets homeless and desperate unable to afford rentals or medication. Praying our state wakes up to the problem but so far we are just lost in a politicle jungle with no answers. stay safe everyone and lets keep pushing for mental health help, if we combine our voices won't we be heard?
oh and Batman Lives here or has a vacation house near by, so movie stars are escaping to montana to leave the craziness of big city life and it is following them here. our town population is 2,300 people very rural, You have to think if Canada with it's "world famous nice people population" are having the same issues, it is a global issue. by the way i adore Steve B. and pray Him well, maybe He will speak out against mental health issues and bring some much needed light onto a very dark subject. I can only Pray that someone will be heard and start a refromation in the mental health community. thoughts or ideas anyone?
Too bad it was not a dentist . maybe he would have offered to fix his teeth!