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New York authorities on Wednesday released portions of a security camera video showing a woman rushing forward and attempting to attack the 14-year-old son of jazz musician Keyon Harrold whom she falsely accused of stealing her iPhone that she left in an Uber.
The 10-second clip shows the woman attacking Keyon Harrold Jr. and wrapping her arms around him on Saturday in the lobby of the Arlo Soho, an upscale boutique hotel in New York City where Harrold and his son were invited , said the hotel.
The New York City Police Department said Tuesday that the teenager’s father “had scratches on his hand.” No other injuries were reported.
Police said they were looking for the woman and “positively identified” her, but did not publicly identify her. The incident was not investigated as an incident of bias, police said. Harrold and his son are black and have suggested that racial prejudice played a role in the incident.
On Sunday, Harrold shared the first minute-long video of the heated exchange on social media. In the video, the woman can be heard accosting the father and son shouting, “Show me my phone!” A man in the video who identified himself as the hotel manager can also be heard asking to see Harrold Jr.’s phone.
Before the end of the video, the woman appeared to approach Harrold, prompting the jazz musician to shout, “Let go of your hands!”
The video quickly went viral over the weekend, with many on social media accusing the woman and hotel workers of racial discrimination against Harrold and his son.
NBC News has not established the identity of the woman and it is not known what happened before or after what is shown in the surveillance footage or video of Harrold.
The woman told CNN on Tuesday that she was assaulted in Saturday’s altercation, but the network was unable to corroborate her claims with investigators or the hotel. The NYPD and Arlo SoHo did not immediately return NBC News’ request for comment.
The 22-year-old said she initially asked someone else to “empty her pocket” before facing Harrold Jr., which CNN has also not been able to confirm, according to the network.
The woman said she was concerned about how she was portrayed in the video, saying it was not an exact portrayal.
“It’s not who I am. I actually try really hard to make sure I’m always doing the right thing, ”she says.
CNN has not publicly identified the woman due to security concerns unrelated to the incident.
She added that she was willing to cooperate with investigators, but said she had not received a call from authorities and had not contacted each other yet. She also said she would be willing to speak to the Harrold family.
The woman stopped responding to the network after initially agreeing to provide evidence that would confirm her claim that she was assaulted, according to the network.
On Monday, Arlo Hotel apologized to the Harrold family, saying “more could have been done to defuse the conflict.”
“We are deeply disheartened by the recent incident of baseless accusation, prejudice and assault against an innocent guest at the Arlo Hotel,” the hotel said in a statement. “No Arlo guest – or person – should be subjected to this type of behavior.”
“We are committed to ensuring that this does not happen again at any of our hotels,” the hotel said.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Harrold’s family, has called on the Manhattan district attorney to lay charges of assault and assault against the woman.
Crump also called for a civil rights investigation of the Arlo Hotel for “implied bias” in his treatment of the Harrold family.
A spokesperson for the Manhattan DA told NBC News on Monday that the office is “fully investigating this incident.”
The jazz musician, accompanied by Crump and Reverend Al Sharpton, spoke at a press conference on Wednesday.
“I can’t even go down to New York City – New York City – and just go to brunch without being attacked and falsely accused of something,” Harrold said. “The idea of trauma goes above any accusation that could ever be made.”
“I want my son to grow up whole,” he says.
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