'Unimaginable Pain': Man Charged In 'Sickening, Cruel' Acid Attack Arraigned, Prosecutors Say

MINEOLA, NY. — Authorities announced Tuesday that a man had been arraigned in connection with a 2021 sulfuric acid attack that left an Elmont woman blind in her right eye.

Prosecutors said that Brooklyn resident Terrell Campbell had appeared in Nassau County court Tuesday, where he was arraigned on charges related to the 2021 attack on Elmont resident and Hofstra University student Nafiah Ikram.

“He was arraigned this morning, here in Mineola, on charges of two counts of assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and unlawful possession of noxious materials,” District Attorney Anne Donnelly said. “He was remanded by Judge Joy Watson. If convicted he faces up to 25 years in prison.”

Prosecutors said Tuesday that Ikram had been arriving home with her mother on the night of Mar. 17, 2021 at about 8 p.m. Ikram stayed behind to collect her belongings while her mother went inside, prosecutors said. As she began walking toward her home, prosecutors said a man approached her from behind and threw sulfuric acid on her, covering her face and chest area and getting into her eyes and mouth. Prosecutors said the attack left Ikram blinded in her right eye, and with such severe scarring in her throat that she requires routine operations to remove scar tissue in order to eat and breathe.

“We made a solemn pledge, and we made that pledge time and time again, that we would follow every lead, no matter where it led to, to bring justice to Nafiah and to her family. So, I am incredibly grateful for the police work that we’ve done,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said. “This is a day where justice will be served.”

Donnelly said video evidence collected shortly after the attack captured Ikram’s assailant fleeing the scene in a red Nissan Altima, a block from the scene.

“Despite exhaustive efforts, we were unable at the time to match that vehicle to an owner. Late last year, new evidence came to light that jump-started our investigation and led to this arrest,” Donnelly said. “And that evidence pointed to Terrell Campbell of Brooklyn.”

Donnelly said the evidence led authorities to Campbell's address, where they found a red Altima parked outside. Later, authorities learned that Campbell had access to a red Altima back in 2021. After following that lead, Donnelly said investigators also found internet searches that connected to the attack.

“In the minutes — minutes — following the attack, we found searches asking, ‘How do I remove sulfuric acid from my car’s fabric?’” Donnelly said. “And two years after he ambushed Nafiah and left her screaming in pain on her front lawn, he actually produced and uploaded a music video to Youtube, boasting about throwing acid in a woman’s face.”

That music video, Donnelly said, is still up on YouTube.

“Under the name ‘Young Based Prince’ is a song called ‘Obsidian.’ 'Obsidian' means hot lava that comes from a volcano, and when it cools into a rock, it is called obsidian rock,” Donnelly said. “In this song, ‘Obsidian,’ he raps, ‘On the street in the night, like a hitman assassin. Trying to run up and have your face burned in acid.’ It’s sickening, it’s cruel and it’s brazen.”

Donnelly did not say what information came to light that led prosecutors to Campbell, saying only that it was information about the identity of a possible suspect. Furthermore, Donnelly said the motive for the attack is still under investigation. A $50,000 reward, county officials said, is being given out to an individual who will remain anonymous. Finally, Donnelly said Campbell was not known to the Ikram family at the time of the attack.

“These past five years have not been easy for Nafiah…For the past five years, she has endured this unimaginable pain. She has also lived with two heartbreaking questions: who and why?” Donnelly said. “Today, I am proud that we are finally able to answer one of those questions, the who. As for the why, our investigation continues and we cannot provide any additional details at this time.