Aspiring rapper arrested in 2021 Long Island acid attack that left woman with severe burns, vision loss

Nearly five years after a shocking acid attack left a young college student permanently scarred, police have finally arrested a suspect, with digital footprints and a controversial rap lyric forming key pieces of the puzzle.Terell Campbell, 29, a Brooklyn-based flower delivery driver and aspiring rapper, was arrested Tuesday in connection with the March 2021 assault on Nafiah Ikram in Elmont, Long Island. He has been charged with two counts of assault and criminal possession of a noxious substance. Campbell pleaded not guilty in Nassau County Court.

Digital clues after brutal attack

According to prosecutors, Campbell conducted several incriminating internet searches immediately after the attack, including phrases such as “sulfuric acid remover,” “sulfuric acid on car seat,” and “Can you recover from a sulfuric acid attack?” Authorities described the searches as deeply disturbing and central to building the case.Adding to the controversy, prosecutors allege Campbell referenced burning someone’s face with acid in a song he posted online, a detail that stunned the courtroom.Officials called the assault “one of the most vicious and barbaric acts” in Nassau County’s history.

A driveway ambush

On a March afternoon in 2021, Ikram was ambushed in the driveway of her Elmont home by a hooded man who threw a cup of acid at her face before fleeing in a red Nissan Altima.

The attack left her with severe facial burns, damage to her throat, and permanent vision loss in her right eye.At the time, she said she did not know her attacker. She described him only as a tall, thin man, about 6-foot-2, who vanished within seconds.For years, the case remained unsolved, leaving Ikram living in fear while undergoing multiple surgeries and painful treatments.“I’m still suffering to this day,” she had said in a 2023 interview, detailing how scar tissue limited her ability to open her mouth and how she remained dependent on others for daily tasks.

From victim to voice of resilience

Despite the trauma, Ikram has refused to let the attack define her future. Through journaling, support from an emotional assistance pet, and numerous skin graft procedures, she has worked toward rebuilding her life.She now speaks publicly about her experience, hoping to inspire other survivors of violence. Her long-term ambition? To complete her college degree and possibly pursue a career in trauma medicine, motivated by her own painful journey through recovery.More details are expected to emerge at a Nassau County Police Department press conference scheduled later Tuesday.The arrest marks a turning point in a case that once appeared to have gone cold, with a digital trail ultimately leading investigators back to the suspect.