The suspect accused of assaulting Rick Moranis has been arrested in New York.
The New York Police Department said Marquis Ventura, 35, was taken into custody Saturday afternoon after being spotted by a NYPD Transit officer. It wasn’t clear if Ventura, whom authorities identified as homeless, had an attorney who could comment.
Moranis, 67, famous for his roles in “Ghostbusters” and “Little Shop of Horrors,” was walking near Central Park in Manhattan’s Upper West Side just before 7:30 a.m. Oct. 1 when he was sucker-punched in the head by an unidentified man.
Surveillance video shows a man wearing a black “I (heart) NY” sweatshirt and backpack knock Moranis to the ground in an unprovoked attack and flee on foot. Moranis went to a police station to report the incident.
“Rick Moranis was assaulted on the Upper West Side yesterday,” Moranis’ representative Troy Bailey told USA TODAY in a statement after the assault. “He is fine but grateful for everyone’s thoughts and well wishes.”
“The victim suffered from pain to the head, back, and right hip and traveled by private means to an area hospital for evaluation,” NYPD spokesperson Detective Sophia Mason told USA TODAY in an email.
Moranis received an outpouring of love on social media from fans, including Chris Evans. “My blood is boiling,” the “Captain America” star wrote. “Find this man. You don’t touch Rick Moranis.”
Moranis, an Emmy winner, returned to the screen in September in a new Mint Mobile commercial with Ryan Reynolds. It was his first screen acting gig in two decades, following beloved roles in “Little Shop of Horrors” (1986), “Spaceballs” (1987), “The Flintstones” (1994), and the “Ghostbusters” and “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” franchises. He also appeared in sketch comedy series “Second City Television” in the 1980s.
He has signed on to star in a “Honey” sequel titled “Shrunk,” co-starring Josh Gad (“Frozen”) as the adult son of Moranis’ scientist character, Wayne Szalinski.
Contributing: The Associated Press
