Shaquille Coke, a 31-year-old man from Brooklyn, was arrested on Tuesday for masterminding a vicious acid attack that left his ex-girlfriend, Nafiah Ikram, partially blind and scarred. The attack, which occurred in March 2021, was allegedly carried out as an act of revenge after Ikram broke up with Coke a month earlier.
The Attack
Ikram, a Hofstra University pre-med student, was standing in her driveway in Elmont, Long Island, after returning from her job at CVS when she was ambushed by Terrell Campbell, a 29-year-old man and wannabe rapper who calls himself Yung Based Prince.
Campbell allegedly threw a cup filled with 70% sulfuric acid in Ikram’s face, causing second- and third-degree burns on her face, arms, and chest, and destroying her contact lenses. The attack left her blind in one eye.
Coke, who is said to have been the one who orchestrated the crime, was allegedly waiting in the driver’s seat of the car while Campbell carried out the attack, prosecutors revealed.
Coke’s Motivation
According to Nassau County Assistant District Attorney Brian Rodriguez, the attack was a “twisted” version of revenge by Coke, who was unable to accept being dumped by Ikram. Coke’s sense of entitlement and the lack of attention he felt from Ikram are said to have fueled the horrifying act.
Coke reportedly called Ikram “Freddy Krueger” after the attack, referencing the infamous villain from the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, and even admitted to telling Campbell that he wanted something “devastating” to happen to Ikram.
The Investigation
The case remained unsolved for nearly two years until February 2024, when Campbell was arrested and charged for his role in the acid attack. Campbell had allegedly searched for “sulfuric acid remover” on his phone, suggesting he was trying to clean up the mess in his car after the attack.
Coke’s involvement in the crime came to light when investigators linked him to Campbell. In a music video posted on YouTube, Campbell rapped about an incident involving acid burning, with lyrics that seemed to describe the attack on Ikram: “On the street in the night like a hitman assassin, try to run up, have your face burning in acid.”
Court Proceedings
At his arraignment on Tuesday, Coke pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and unlawfully possessing noxious materials. His defense attorney, Kenneth Montgomery, called the case “circumstantial”, arguing that Campbell was a “self-interested” witness.
Coke was ordered to be held without bail as the case moves forward. His arrest brings some closure to the victim’s family, as Ikram, now 26, expressed her relief that justice was finally being served.
Ikram’s Emotional Response
Outside the courthouse, Ikram shared her emotions after the arrest. “It’s a lot right now,” she said, expressing that she was still processing the impact of the attack. “It’s a big shock and right now, I’m trying to just decompress and figure out how I’m feeling emotionally.”
Ikram’s family described her as a “deeply loving” individual, and the attack robbed her of a normal future and the milestones she should have achieved in her young adulthood.
A Devastating Loss
This case highlights the extreme lengths to which Shaquille Coke was willing to go out of jealousy and entitlement, causing irreparable harm to Nafiah Ikram, whose life was dramatically altered by this senseless act of violence.
It also underscores the danger of unresolved emotional turmoil and the need for accountability in cases of revenge-driven violence.
