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Long Island Woman Still Seeking Justice Four Years After Horrific Acid Attack
Elmont, NY – Nafiah Ikram, a Long Island resident, continues to seek justice after surviving a brutal acid attack outside her family home. The heinous assault, which occurred four years ago, remains unsolved, leaving Ikram and her family frustrated and desperate for answers. The then 21-year-old pharmacy technician suffered devastating injuries when a stranger doused her face with acid in her driveway in Elmont, Long Island.
Unsolved Crime: Four Years Without an Arrest
Despite ongoing investigations, law enforcement has yet to apprehend a suspect in connection with the March 17, 2021 attack.
Night of Terror: Returning Home from Work
On that Wednesday evening, what began as a typical weeknight quickly turned into a nightmare for Ikram. The 21-year-old pharmacy technician was returning home from her shift at a local CVS.
As she approached her Elmont residence, carrying lunch leftovers and her bag, a figure suddenly rushed towards her. In a terrifying instant, the assailant hurled a liquid from a white styrofoam cup directly at her face before fleeing the scene.
Immediate Agony and Severe Injuries
Ikram’s immediate scream pierced the night as an intense burning sensation engulfed her face. Instinctively, she frantically splashed water on her skin, initially unaware of the corrosive substance that had been thrown at her. The acid also flowed into her mouth and throat, causing breathing difficulties.
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She later discovered the liquid was sulfuric acid – a dangerous chemical known to cause blindness and severe burns. Doctors informed her that had the acid reached her lungs, the consequences could have been fatal.
Her panicked parents immediately dialed 911, and paramedics transported her to the hospital. She was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for weeks due to the severity of her injuries.
The acid caused burns across a significant portion of her face, including her cheeks, nose, mouth, chin, upper chest, eyes, and wrists. Tragically, the corrosive substance also fused her contact lenses to her eyes.
Surviving the Unsurvivable: Enduring Scars and Trauma
Miraculously, Ikram survived the assault, but her journey has been marked by countless painful surgeries, leaving her with extensive scarring, disfigurement, persistent pain, and vision loss in her right eye.
Last month marked the fourth anniversary of the horrific attack. Now 25, Ikram and her mother voiced their deep disappointment that the perpetrator of this brutal crime remains at large.
“We are constantly pushing and engaging with the community and the public because we believe that one day they will be caught,” Sherina Ikram, Nafiah’s mother, stated. “I will never give up.”
Nafiah Ikram at 21, a Hofstra pre-med student and CVS pharmacy technician, before the life-altering acid attack.
Nafiah, now 25, is focused on her ongoing recovery – both physically and emotionally – following the unprovoked acid attack on March 17, 2021.
Recollections of a Chilling Encounter
On the evening of the assault, Ikram remembers noticing an individual lingering near her neighbor’s fence, observing her as she exited her vehicle.
“I had a terrible feeling. I felt a sense of impending doom. I felt like something truly awful was about to happen,” she recounted.
“As I walked towards the driveway, I began reciting a surah (Muslim prayer) in my mind. The prayer, ‘Divine Protection,’ emphasizes the power of God and is meant to inspire feelings of safety.”
She recalled the cold weather that night and questioned why someone would be outside in such conditions.
She told DailyMail.com, “When I leaned in to see their face, they made eye contact with me, and then they threw the acid and fled with the cup.”
“Initially I was in disbelief, and then my face started burning, and I panicked.”
“I touched my eye where the acid burned. I didn’t know the extent of the damage, but I felt my cornea burning, and my contact lenses adhered to my eyes.”
Subsequently, she experienced breathing difficulties and started to drool.
When paramedics reached her home, they immediately administered oxygen.
“I was drifting in and out of consciousness in the ambulance,” she recalled. “They were rinsing my face with saline solution. It was excruciatingly painful. I kept losing consciousness.”
“I genuinely believed I was going to die. I had an internal plea with God, saying, ‘God, I am only 21 years old. I cannot die like this. I refuse to die like this.’”
These were her thoughts before she completely lost consciousness.
Providing Clues: Description of the Assailant
Once responsive again, she was able to provide police with crucial details from that terrifying night.
She informed detectives that the attacker was a male, approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall, with a slender build, and wearing gloves.
Surveillance and Vehicle of Interest
Surveillance footage captured the attack, and police and the FBI reviewed the video. They subsequently released images of a red 2013-15 Nissan Altima, observed speeding away from her residence, as a vehicle of interest in the ongoing investigation.
Disturbing surveillance footage captures the moment Nafiah arrives at her Elmont home. A man (right) is seen approaching from behind and throwing acid in her face.
Mother Believes Attack Was Targeted
Ikram’s mother believes that Nafiah, her only child, was the victim of a deliberate and targeted attack, possibly fueled by jealousy.
“It was 100 percent premeditated,” she asserted. “We are unsure if it was a disgruntled customer or a jealous coworker. We all have potential adversaries; we just don’t always know who they are.”
She suggested that Nafiah’s rapid advancement at CVS may have provoked envy. “She was progressing rapidly and was favored over many others,” she explained.
“She was excelling in her role. Someone was so incredibly envious that they wanted her to lose her job or experience something devastating.”
On the night of the attack, she noted, “She noticed a red car parked across the street approximately 30 minutes prior to the incident. Someone was clearly waiting for her.”
Frustration with Investigation
Expressing her disappointment with the protracted investigation, she said, “I don’t know what the police have done with the case. The FBI is involved, but we are genuinely dissatisfied.”
Nassau County Police declined to publicly disclose specifics of the active investigation, but they have offered a $30,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the perpetrator(s).
“The investigation remains active and ongoing, and we will not rest until those responsible are apprehended,” Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder stated.
“From the outset of the Nafiah Ikram assault case, the Nassau County Police Department has dedicated significant investigative resources to this horrific attack,” the statement continued.
“We have invested countless investigative hours, appealed to the public for assistance through media and social media channels, and collaborated with multiple law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.”
Ikram and her parents at a press conference a year after the attack, expressing concerns about the pace of the police investigation.
Nafiah, wearing an oxygen mask, struggled to breathe independently following the acid attack.
Nafiah has undergone numerous grueling facial surgeries. She narrowly avoided losing her right eye.
Doctors are employing skin grafting techniques to regenerate skin on Ikram’s face. This photo depicts her in the hospital after a procedure where skin was harvested from another part of her body.
Ikram receives unwavering love and support from her best friend, who has been by her side since day one.
Rebuilding Life After Trauma
Despite the considerable challenges she faces, Ikram is resolutely working to rebuild her life.
Prior to the attack, she was a vibrant young woman, balancing work and college studies.
She was a part-time pre-med student at Hofstra University while working at CVS, excited about her future, until her life was irrevocably altered in an instant.
The past four years have been arduous, filled with surgeries and various treatments aimed at repairing the burns on her face and wrists.
She mentioned that she has a team of 13 doctors involved in her recovery and openly discussed the emotional rollercoaster she has experienced.
“It’s unbelievable. How many people do you know have a pain management specialist, an ophthalmologist, and a cornea specialist?” she questioned. “Who has three eye doctors when they practically have only one functioning eye?”
Among her physicians is Dr. Eduardo D. Rodriguez, a renowned surgeon at NYU Langone who leads their face transplant program.
She explained that a component of her treatment involves cultivating new skin on her face. This process entails harvesting skin grafts from other areas of her body.
Emotional Scars and Healing
While medical professionals address her physical wounds, Ikram is also diligently addressing the emotional scars, grappling with periods of depression and anger, issues she continues to navigate with her therapist.
Discussing the night that dramatically changed her life has been exceptionally difficult, she confided.
“As soon as I need to discuss anything related to my trauma, it’s as if my mind shuts down. I am trying to regain that ability because a part of me died that night.”
Mirror work has become an integral part of her therapy, focusing on self-acceptance and self-love.
“I see my face, but I am a different person. I am no longer her,” she reflected. “I was trying so hard, and that’s where the anger stemmed from. I would become incredibly angry.”
“I would look at old videos and pictures of myself. I was always positive… the person who could make you laugh when you were feeling down.”
“One day, I was with my young cousin, and he asked me, ‘What happened to you? You’re the person who is always cheerful,’ and I responded, ‘Yeah, go figure. Have you not seen my face?’”
She explains that this dark humor is a coping mechanism that helps her accept her new reality.
Ikram is determined to rebuild her life despite the trauma she has endured.
A recent photograph illustrating the scarring on Ikram’s face and wrists. While healing is ongoing, and she manages chronic pain, she is striving for patience and self-compassion.
Coping Mechanisms and Moving Forward
She uses medical marijuana to manage her chronic pain effectively.
She must avoid certain foods to prevent inflammation of her esophagus, which sustained internal burns.
Vision impairment in one eye prevents her from driving, making her reliant on her parents for transportation. She hopes to regain her ability to drive in the future.
Seeing a red car is a trigger, instantly transporting her back to that horrific night.
Her healing process includes journaling, Pilates, gym workouts, and spending time with her cat, Zen.
Ikram shared that she is gradually adapting to her new normal. She has resumed classes at Hofstra and is working towards returning to her role as a pharmacy technician.
She also engages in speaking engagements at schools and organizations in the tri-state area.
The topics she addresses often revolve around “adversity, resilience, finding motivation in challenging times, and managing difficult emotions.”
While uncertain about her ultimate career path, she is certain that she wants to pursue a vocation focused on assisting other trauma survivors.
The trauma she endured has cultivated profound compassion and empathy within her, fostering a journey of self-love and acceptance.
Ikram’s mother expressed immense admiration for her daughter’s strength, noting that despite ongoing pain and surgical scars, “She is in considerable pain, but she is striving to manage it and move forward with her life.”
Community Support and Ongoing Fundraiser
Neighbors established a GoFundMe campaign shortly after the attack to assist with mounting expenses.
Celebrity chef Padma Lakshmi, a family friend, amplified Ikram’s story to her millions of Instagram followers.
The fundraiser remains active and has raised nearly $600,000 to date.
Authorities urge anyone with pertinent information to contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.