Clifton Williams, a homeless man with a significant criminal history in Kentucky and Florida, was arrested and charged with assaulting actor Steve Buscemi on May 8, leaving Buscemi with injuries including bleeding to his eye, swelling, bruising, and substantial pain. Williams had randomly punched the actor on a street in Kips Bay before casually walking away. In addition to the attack on Buscemi, Williams was charged with assaulting a 22-year-old Asian man just 10 minutes earlier, leading to the felony count of second-degree assault due to Buscemi being over 65 years old.
During the court proceedings, Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Barry highlighted Williams’ criminal history and requested a $100,000 bail. However, Judge Marisol Martinez Alonso ultimately set his bail at $50,000 cash or $150,000 bond, resulting in Williams being sent to Rikers Island jail. Williams, who had only been in New York for less than a month, confessed to the attacks when confronted by the NYPD with surveillance photos. The NYPD had been actively searching for Williams after identifying him from the surveillance footage near the site of the assaults, even checking a Brooklyn homeless shelter believed to be his last known address.
In addition to the attacks on May 8, another man, Plumber Mark Belli, claimed that Williams had also attempted to attack and threaten to kill him on the same day he was arrested. Belli shared that Williams had been living in a cardboard box near his workplace, and during an altercation, Williams tried to punch him and threatened his life. Belli managed to evade the attack and called 911 to report the incident, intending to file a report against Williams. Williams, who appeared in court wearing black jeans, a black long sleeve sweatshirt, and gray high top shoes, acknowledged the judge with a loud and clear “Yes, Your Honor” during the proceedings.
As the case against Williams continues to unfold, the motive behind the random assaults on Buscemi and the 22-year-old Asian man, as well as the alleged altercation with Belli remains unclear. The incidents have shed light on the issue of homelessness in New York City and the challenges faced by individuals living on the streets. The arrest and charges against Williams have sparked conversations about mental health, criminal histories, and the justice system. As Williams remains in custody awaiting further legal proceedings, the community is grappling with the repercussions of such violent attacks and the underlying factors contributing to them. Changes in policies and services for the homeless population may be recommended to prevent similar incidents in the future.
