Videos have surfaced online showing Steve Buscemi and the alleged assailant moments before he was hit in the face in a shocking unprovoked attack.
As previously reported, the 66-year-old actor, best known for starring in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, was pictured with a black eye and bruised chin in his first appearance since Wednesday’s (May 8) broad daylight assault.
Buscemi had been walking near the corner of Third Avenue and East 27th Street in the Kips Bay neighborhood at around 11:48AM when a stranger struck him in the face, per The New York Times.
He was taken to Bellevue Hospital after suffering suffered swelling to his face and left eye, authorities disclosed.
A worker who witnessed the incident on surveillance footage spoke to The New York Post and said: “The guy just came up to him and punched him on the side of the head for no reason.
“[Buscemi] didn’t see anything. He went straight to the ground and the guy kept going," they continued. “[Buscemi] got right back up with an expression like, ‘What just happened?’ and looked toward the guy who’d hit him.
“The guy shouted something back at him and kept going," the worker said, adding that the Kips Bay neighborhood “is full of people like this and it’s just getting worse".
“Everybody has to look over their shoulder now,” they noted. “And no one with the power to do anything wants to stop what’s going on.”
While authorities did not reveal Buscemi as the victim, his publicist issued a statement on Sunday (May 12) confirming that the actor was the man who had been attacked.
“Steve Buscemi was assaulted in Mid-Town Manhattan, another victim of a random act of violence in the city,” Buscemi’s publicist 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,” they added.
The NYPD released surveillance pictures of the alleged attacker, a bearded man sporting a baseball cap, a blue t-shirt, and black sweatpants.
Exclusive security footage obtained by CBS News revealed the Hollywood star, who is a Brooklyn native and former FDNY firefighter, looking at his phone moments before he was randomly punched.
In addition to this, the publication shared another video showing the unnamed suspect seemingly talking to himself while walking down the street before he launched his attack on the beloved actor.
Anyone with any information on the suspect in Buscemi's case is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
