The reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a person who threw acid on a Hofstra student’s face has been increased to $50,000, while Nassau police said they are making progress on the investigation Wednesday.
Nafiah Ikram, a Sewanhaka graduate, had acid thrown in her face outside her Elmont home in March 2021 by an unknown assailant.
The reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect described as roughly 6’2” with a skinny build was increased from $40,000 to $50,000, officials announced Wednesday.
The county will pay $30,000 in reward money while the FBI, which is aiding the county in its search, will pay the other $20,000.
Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages (D-Valley Stream), who previously urged for the increased reward last year, expressed his gratitude to the county and the FBI for helping to incentivize others to find the assailant and commended Ikram for her strength throughout the search.
“Nafiah Ikram has inspired all of us with the determination, dignity and courage she has demonstrated throughout this unthinkable ordeal,” Solages said. “I am very thankful for the cooperation and strong support from the Nassau County Police Department and the FBI, and I believe that together, we’re going to make justice happen for Nafiah.”
Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said the department is “a lot further on” in the search for the assailant than when they first started, expressing confidence that someone has information on the acid thrower.
Ikram’s mother, Sherina Mohamed, was walking into the house with her daughter that March night and urged anyone with information to “be a human being” and come forward to help bring the acid thrower to justice.
Ikram, who lost more than 10 pounds in 10 days after her eighth surgery, said she will not feel fully safe until the attacker is caught.
“Knowing who did this will 100% help me feel a little better and a little bit safer when I’m outside,” Ikram said Wednesday.
The attacker, police said, wore a black hooded sweatshirt and gloves before fleeing the area in a red 2013-2015 Nissan Altima.
The acid caused Ikram to scream, which resulted in the liquid spreading to her mouth, according to a GoFundMe page to help fund the various medical procedures needed.
Her tongue and throat were burned as a result of the attack, along with burns and scars on her face, according to the page.
Ikram ran into the house, where her parents attempted to help her, but the acid burned her parents’ arms and hands as well, the page said.
The acid caused “severe burning” on Ikram’s eyes, chest and arms, according to the post. She was also wearing contact lenses, which were melted to her eyes as a result of the acid.
The GoFundMe page has raised more than $570,000 for Ikram since being launched following the attack. Ikram occasionally posts updates on her surgeries and the road to recovery.
A Jan. 2 update detailed her recovery from her most recent surgery as “extremely gruesome, severely painful and probably the worst one” she has endured.
Still, Ikram said she remains grateful for friends, family, medical professionals and others who have aided her in the recovery journey.
“I am so grateful to have so much support because it’s so important to know that you’re wanted, appreciated and most importantly LOVED in life and especially in my predicament,” Ikram wrote.
