ELMONT, Long Island (WABC) — A second man arrested in connection to the 2021 acid attack on a Hofstra University student is believed to be the victim’s ex-boyfriend.
Shaquille Coke, 31, was arraigned on Tuesday on charges of assault, criminal possession of a weapon and unlawfully possessing noxious materials.
Prosecutors say he allegedly orchestrated the attack due to anger over their relationship.
The victim, Nafia Ikram, who was 21 at the time, was severely injured in the attack outside her home on March 17, 2021.
A second suspect, 29-year-old Terrell Campbell, was arrested in February. Prosecutors say he threw the cup of liquid, later determined to be 70% sulfuric acid, at Ikram.
She was treated for second and third-degree burns to her face, arms, wrists, shoulders, right eye and esophagus.
Ikram still struggles with poor vision and scarring on her face. She has also suffered emotional trauma since the attack.
Over the last five years, investigators say their evidence revealed that Coke, Ikram’s ex-boyfriend, met up with Campbell one hour before the attack and drove the car that was used.
“This defendant was a jealous, possessive, and jilted former boyfriend of the victim, who could not accept that his months-long relationship had run its course. With his co-defendant and high school friend, Terrell Campbell, Shaquille Coke allegedly carried out a vicious and vindictive attack to mutilate the young woman who ended their relationship,” said DA Anne Donnelly. “After the attack, Coke tried to distance himself from the attack while secretly sending vulgar messages to Nafiah Ikram, calling her cruel and disgusting names from a spoofed phone number. Coke said that ‘karma’ would get Nafiah, but justice has come for him. I want to thank our partners at the Nassau County Police Department for their tireless detective work over the last five years to see the individuals allegedly responsible for this horrific attack held accountable.”
Ikram spoke out after the arrest Tuesday and said that she hopes he reaps what he sows.
“The fact that he thinks that he had the right to do that in itself and then create a whole fake scenario and all of that to make me deceived and think that he’s protective and I should stay with him…that in itself, you’re delusional and diabolical,” Ikram said.
Coke pleaded not guilty and was remanded. He is due back in court in April. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
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