(DailyDig.com) – Steve Buscemi, an actor known for his roles in movies including “Boardwalk Empire” and “Fargo,” suffered an assault on the streets of New York on May 9.
Buscemi’s publicist confirmed the attack happened in Manhattan around noon in midtown. Although he was fine, the bleeding and swelling in his left eye led to his hospitalization. He thanked everyone for wishing him well, but was troubled and sad that this could happen to anyone just walking on New York streets.
The Police Department of New York reported the assault without naming the victim. The NYPD released surveillance camera photos of the attacker, who remains at large. The NYPD stated that he was last known to have been wearing a blue tee-shirt with black sweatpants, wearing a baseball cap, and shod with white sneakers. He is a man with a beard, carrying with him a backpack.
Later, authorities identified him as Xavier Israel, a homeless man.
An eyewitness working in that area at the time of the attack stated that he saw a man in the company of a woman. As he watched through the window’s edge, he saw the man trip and then fall backwards. He got up immediately and ran away.
Having been born in Brooklyn, Buscemi was a loved figure in New York. He was a former firefighter in New York in the 1980s, and he joined his old crew, Engine 55, at Ground Zero after the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks.
As an actor, Buscemi became famous for his role in “Boardwalk Empire.” He played corrupt Atlanta City politician Enoch “Nucky” Thompson. In the show, Michael Stuhbarg played the character Arnold Rothstein, a gangster. On March 31, he was running on the Upper East Side of New York when he fell victim to an assault.
Buscemi celebrated Halloween in 2021 by handing out candy in Park Slope dressed as his character from the hit show he was in, “30 Rock.”
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