A second person has been arrested in connection with the years-old acid attack that left a Hofstra University student disfigured, according to local reporting. The March 2021 assault in Elmont burned the victim’s face, throat and arms and set off years of surgeries and ongoing medical care. This latest custody move follows the February indictment and arrest of a Brooklyn man in the same investigation.
As reported by CBS News New York, a second person was taken into custody on Tuesday, but Nassau County authorities did not immediately release the individual’s name or the charges. In the outlet’s video report, detectives said the probe is still active and declined to offer more on-the-record details.
What Happened In 2021
On March 17, 2021, a hooded assailant ran up behind then 21-year-old Nafiah Ikram as she walked up the driveway of her Arlington Avenue home in Elmont and threw a cup of sulfuric acid in her face, leaving her with severe chemical burns and long-term injuries, as reported by ABC7 New York. The attack melted her contact lenses, damaged her throat and eyes, and spurred a GoFundMe that raised roughly six figures to help cover medical care, according to local reporting.
February Arrest And Evidence
On Feb. 10, 2026, prosecutors arrested and indicted 29-year-old Terrell Campbell of Brooklyn on assault and related counts, with investigators saying digital evidence and records helped identify him, the Hofstra Chronicle reported. Authorities pointed to a late 2025 tip, license-plate-reader matches, internet searches about sulfuric-acid cleanup and a 2023 YouTube music video in which an aspiring rapper appears to reference the attack as part of the evidence outlined at the time of the indictment.
Second Arrest: What We Know
Details about this week's arrest remain limited in the public record. CBS News New York's video report noted that police had taken the person into custody but did not list charges or identify the individual. Nassau County officials told the outlet the investigation is ongoing and declined to provide more information.
Victim Recovery And Community Response
Ikram has undergone multiple surgeries and continues to receive medical care while describing the physical and emotional toll of the attack in interviews with local outlets, including the Hofstra Chronicle. Local leaders and the victim’s family praised detectives after the February arrest and said a new custody development raises the possibility of more answers for the community, according to Long Island reporting.
Legal Status
The man arrested in February, Terrell Campbell, pleaded not guilty and was held without bail, ABC7 New York reported, and prosecutors have said the charges carry years of potential prison time if he is convicted. It was not immediately clear whether the newly arrested person will face state charges. Prosecutors say the inquiry remains active and investigators continue to develop evidence.
Hoodline first reported on the February arrest and the victim’s recovery. See our original coverage of the victim's courageous recovery for background. We will update this story as Nassau County police or the district attorney’s office release further details.
