Acid attack suspect busted after five year hunt in Elmont
MINEOLA, N.Y. — A Brooklyn man accused of hurling sulfuric acid at a 21-year-old pre-med student outside her Elmont home nearly five years ago was arraigned Tuesday on charges that he carried out the attack and later referenced it in a rap video, prosecutors said, marking a major break in a case that left the victim with lasting injuries and years of unanswered questions.
Terrell Campbell, 29, was arraigned before Judge Joy Watson on a grand jury indictment charging him with two counts of assault in the first degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, and unlawfully possessing noxious materials. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded. Campbell is due back in court on February 18. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, the attack happened on March 17, 2021, at about 8:30 p.m., as the victim and her mother returned to their Elmont residence after the victim completed a shift at a pharmacy in Baldwin. The victim’s mother entered the home while the young woman gathered items from the back of their vehicle.
As she approached the front door, a man wearing a hooded sweatshirt, mask, and gloves allegedly walked up and threw a cup of liquid at her. The substance, later determined to be 70 percent sulfuric acid, struck her face and chest, entered her throat, and splashed into her eye, prosecutors said.
The victim collapsed on the front lawn and was transported to Nassau University Medical Center, where she was admitted to intensive care. She suffered second- and third-degree burns to her face, arms, wrists, shoulders, right eye, and esophagus. Authorities said she has since undergone multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and ongoing esophageal dilation procedures to allow her to breathe and eat normally.
The investigation stretched on for years as warrants were executed, subpoenas were issued, and interviews were conducted. Surveillance video recovered after the attack showed a red Nissan Altima parked near the home and fleeing the area, but the license plate was not visible and the registered owner could not initially be located.
In late 2025, information from community members and cooperation from technology companies led investigators to Campbell, according to prosecutors. Authorities allege Campbell regularly drove a 2015 red Nissan Altima registered to a family member, citing moving violations, traffic tickets, and accident reports in which he provided his driver’s license. License Plate Reader data from days surrounding the attack allegedly linked the vehicle used in the incident to the one driven by Campbell.
Prosecutors also cited online activity they say connects Campbell to the crime. In 2023, he released a YouTube music video under the name “YungBasedPrince” that included lyrics referencing an acid attack. Search history from a Google account allegedly tied to Campbell included queries made minutes and days after the attack for phrases such as “sulfuric acid remover,” “sulfuric acid on car seat,” “can you recover from sulfuric acid burn,” and “acid attack Franklin Square Long Island.”
Campbell was arrested Monday by members of the Nassau County Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Senior Litigation Counsel Brian Rodriguez of the Homicide Bureau.
The charges are accusations, and Campbell is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Key Points
• Terrell Campbell was arraigned Tuesday on first-degree assault and weapons charges tied to a 2021 sulfuric acid attack in Elmont
• Prosecutors say the 21-year-old victim suffered severe burns and has undergone multiple surgeries and ongoing medical treatment
• Investigators linked Campbell to the case through vehicle data, community tips, and online searches, and he faces up to 25 years if convicted