Video footage surfaced recently capturing the moments leading up to actor Steve Buscemi’s unexpected assault on the streets of New York City last week.
In the video obtained by CBS New York, the 66-year-old actor can be seen walking down the sidewalk, engrossed in his phone. At one point, he briefly shifts his attention away from his device to exchange greetings with another individual. However, the footage does not capture the subsequent events. Shortly after, Buscemi is seen crossing the street where he becomes the victim of a random assault.
The outlet also obtained footage of the alleged attacker prior to the assault. In the video, the individual is seen walking down the sidewalk, seemingly muttering to himself and making gestures.
The incident occurred as Buscemi was strolling along Third Avenue near East 27th Street in Kips Bay, located in eastern Manhattan, around 11:48 a.m. on Wednesday. The assailant approached Buscemi, attacked him, and then fled the scene. Despite efforts, the attacker remains unidentified, and no arrests have been made. Buscemi was subsequently taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he received treatment for injuries to his left eye, including bruising, swelling, and bleeding.
Days later, Buscemi was spotted with a black eye while walking past a film crew in Manhattan, concealing his injured eye behind sunglasses.
Confirming the incident, Buscemi’s publicist stated, “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.”
An eyewitness described seeing Buscemi with a woman before witnessing him trip and fall backward. However, they did not witness the actual assault.
Authorities released a surveillance image of the alleged attacker, described as wearing a dark baseball hat, blue T-shirt, black pants, and white sneakers.
Buscemi, a native New Yorker, initially pursued a career in firefighting in Brooklyn before transitioning to acting. He gained recognition for his roles in various projects, including the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire” and films such as “Fargo” and “Reservoir Dogs.”
This unfortunate incident isn’t the first time Buscemi has faced violence. In 2001, while filming “Domestic Disturbance” in Wilmington, NC, he intervened in a bar brawl and was stabbed multiple times. The actor required medical attention and underwent plastic surgery to recover from his injuries.
The assault on Buscemi follows a similar incident involving his “Boardwalk Empire” co-star Michael Stuhbarg, who was attacked while out for a run in New York earlier in the year.
These random assaults in New York City are part of a concerning trend known as the knockout game, where strangers target unsuspecting individuals with the aim of rendering them unconscious. This trend coincides with an increase in felony assaults recorded in the city, as reported by the NYPD.
