NYC Woman Reports Coney Island Rape on July 4th, Witnesses Mocked and Filmed

A 25-year-old woman from Brooklyn reported a harrowing incident of rape on Coney Island during Fourth of July celebrations, alleging that onlookers laughed and recorded the assault rather than offering assistance.

Melissa Harris recounted her experience, stating she stumbled over a walking mat around 3 a.m. while trying to evade a man she described as having “bad vibes.” “He saw that I was on the floor and that’s when he put his face between my legs, and I started screaming and everyone started laughing and recording me,” she said, expressing her frustration at the lack of help. “Nobody helped. Nobody stopped.”

According to Harris, a golf cart passed by with its light illuminating the scene, but the driver chose to drive away without intervening. She has since reported the incident to the NYPD, as confirmed by sources.

After managing to escape the initial confrontation, Harris claimed her assailant pursued her down Stillwell Avenue, where he raped her. “He bent me over over here, and he raped me,” she recounted, gesturing toward a planter near the iconic boardwalk rides.

“My face hit the bushes. I couldn’t do anything … I was just really scared and then I was screaming for help,” she added, noting that there were witnesses to this part of her ordeal as well.

Harris arrived at the boardwalk around 11 p.m. after the fireworks had concluded. She shared footage with media outlets showing a crowd gathered around a bonfire prior to the attack.

In an interview with local news, she mentioned that she had been socializing with a group of people she had just met, which included her attacker. Following the assaults, she claims the group fled the scene.

Harris is sharing her story in hopes of bringing attention to her assailant and preventing further incidents. The NYPD has yet to provide additional information regarding the case.