NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – A man has been indicted on assault charges for allegedly sucker-punching actor Steve Buscemi and another stranger over the course of 10 minutes in Manhattan, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Clifton Williams, 50, allegedly launched the unprovoked attacks on the morning of May 8, apparently targeting the victims at random on the street.
He was charged with one count of assault in the second degree, which is a felony, and two counts of assault in the third degree, according to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
“Clifton Williams allegedly assaulted two men who were walking on Third Avenue within the span of ten-minutes. No person should fear for their safety when walking through Manhattan and those who threaten or harm pedestrians will be held accountable,” said D.A. Alvin Bragg. “I hope the victims continue to heal from these unprovoked attacks.”
The violent spree made national headlines as one of the victims was Buscemi, known for his film and TV roles in "Fargo" and "Boardwalk Empire."
The first victim, a 22-year-old man, was punched in the face around 11:30 a.m. as he walked at East 15th Street and Third Avenue in Gramercy. He suffered bruising and swelling to his face.
Minutes later, a 66-year-old man—identified as Buscemi by his publicist—was standing and looking at his phone at East 27th street and Third Avenue in Kips Bay when Williams allegedly punched him in the face. The actor fell to the ground and suffered a bleeding, swollen and bruised eye, according to the D.A.'s office, which didn’t identify him by name.
Williams, who police said is homeless, was apprehended in Manhattan on May 17 after the NYPD released photos of the suspect.
Buscemi's publicist confirmed at the time he was attacked, writing in a statement: “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."
Buscemi wasn't the first actor to be randomly assaulted on the streets of Manhattan in recent years.
Indeed, Buscemi's “Boardwalk Empire” co-star Michael Stuhlbarg was hit in the back of the neck with a rock while walking in Central Park on March 31. Stuhlbarg chased his attacker, who was taken into custody outside the park.
And in October 2020 on the Upper West Side, "Ghostbusters" actor Rick Moranis, then 67, was punched in the head unprovoked on Central Park West. The man convicted in that attack was sentenced to two years in prison in August 2022.