American Woman accuses bystanders of laughing and filming her while she was r@ped on Island

A 25-year-old Brooklyn woman, Melissa Harris, has reported being sexually assaulted during Fourth of July celebrations at Coney Island in the early hours of the morning.

According to Harris, the incident occurred around 3 a.m., after she tripped on a walking mat while trying to avoid a man who had made her feel unsafe.

She told CBS News that the man assaulted her on the beach while bystanders reportedly laughed, recorded the incident on their phones, and did not intervene.

Harris also alleged that a passing golf cart shone its lights on the scene, but the driver continued without offering help.

After managing to flee, Harris says she was followed and assaulted a second time near Stillwell Avenue, close to the boardwalk.

She recalled screaming for help, but again received no assistance from nearby witnesses.

Harris had joined a group of people after the fireworks, and said the suspect was part of that group, which fled after the attack.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) has confirmed that a report was filed and an investigation is ongoing.

Malasia Harris says she was RAPED twice at Coney Island on the 4th of July and no one helped her pic.twitter.com/apgyRzbBYe

— Te-Erika (@Te_Erika) July 10, 2025