A teenage boy accused of violently attacking a 15-year-old girl on a New York street is now facing assault charges. The attack, which was captured on video and widely circulated online, occurred last Monday afternoon in East Harlem shortly after school dismissal. Authorities say the 14-year-old suspect was taken into custody and later appeared in court, where he was remanded.
According to the girl’s mother, Lucinda Arroyo, the confrontation did not come out of nowhere. She claims the boy had been persistently bothering her daughter at school prior to the incident. “She’s very upset that her whole life has been completely flipped upside down right now,” Arroyo said. She added that her daughter is an athlete in grade nine at East Harlem Scholars Academy Charter School. She was on her way to squash practice when the boy confronted her.
The video of the altercation shows the boy blocking the victim’s path at a crosswalk along East 107th Street and Third Avenue. He is seen making threats while another individual encourages him. As the girl attempts to walk away, the boy follows her, grabs her from behind, lifts her, and slams her to the ground. He then stomps on her head as she lies injured.
Arroyo described the attack as far more serious than bullying. “This is not even bullying, this is outright assault — and he could have killed her,” she said.
The girl sustained multiple injuries, including a concussion, severe headaches, and a neck injury. She was hospitalised for two days and is now undergoing recovery, which may include ongoing physical therapy.
Adding to the trauma, the video of the incident has continued to circulate online, with the victim reportedly receiving clips of the attack repeatedly. Arroyo said this has left her daughter feeling exposed. She further explained that her daughter had previously tried to avoid the boy because she knew he was “bad news” and was shocked by how quickly the encounter escalated.
While some reports suggest the confrontation may have been triggered after the girl refused to give the boy her phone number, the suspect’s mother, Selma Allen, has disputed that claim. She instead alleged that her son had been the one facing bullying and described him as a “humble” Christian who only reacted after being provoked.
“She was being a bully to him,” Allen said.
She claims that her son complained about being harassed multiple times, and she even took the matter to the principal, but nothing was done to resolve the issue. Allen added that the bullying had gotten to a point where her son wanted to stop attending school.
In response to the allegations about him requesting her number, she said he already has her number because they are friends who regularly communicate through WhatsApp and Instagram. She further claimed that her son was retaliating after the girl shoved him, which she said she has footage of, but did not share. While she insists her son is not a troublemaker, she said he will lash out if he is provoked.
