Mingus Reedus, the 25-year-old son of The Walking Dead star Norman Reedus and model Helena Christensen, was arrested on Saturday, August 23, 2025, in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. Police responded to a call about an assault in progress at approximately 8:40 a.m. and found a 33-year-old woman with minor injuries to her neck and leg. The woman was taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.
The model was initially charged with third-degree assault and criminal obstruction of breathing. However, prosecutors later added three more charges, including assault for recklessly causing physical injury, aggravated harassment, and harassment. Mingus appeared in Manhattan Criminal Court on Saturday evening and pleaded not guilty to all five counts.
According to People, his attorney, Priya Chaudhry, said in a statement that her client’s “innocence will become clear” as “the facts emerge.” The defense lawyer emphasized that prosecutors chose to charge Mingus with “misdemeanors or less,” which she said “speaks volumes, and much louder than the unsupported prosecutor’s in-court comments.” She also pointed out that the judge released Mingus on his own recognizance with no bail or supervision required.
Previous legal troubles and family background
This marks the second time Mingus has faced assault charges. In September 2021, he was arrested for allegedly punching a 24-year-old woman during the San Gennaro festival in New York City’s Little Italy neighborhood. The woman claimed Mingus hit her in the face after a verbal confrontation, leaving her with an injury below her left eye. Mingus later told the New York Daily News that the woman and her friends “swarmed” him and his group at the festival. He ultimately accepted a plea deal in March 2022 for the lesser charge of disorderly conduct.
Mingus Reedus, arrested for assault, arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court https://t.co/QJLpKPrrmB pic.twitter.com/iOWwcE4cP6
— New York Post (@nypost) August 24, 2025
Norman Reedus, who has been a central figure in The Walking Dead franchise since the first season, shares Mingus with supermodel Helena Christensen. The actor also has a daughter, Nova, with his partner Diane Kruger. Despite his famous parents, Mingus has built his own career in modeling, walking runways for major fashion brands including Versace, Calvin Klein, and Tommy Hilfiger.
The circumstances surrounding the recent incident remain unclear, with conflicting accounts from both sides. Police sources told the New York Post that Mingus allegedly punched the woman awake, choked her, and slammed her to the ground. However, his defense team claims Mingus was the one who called law enforcement after the woman, reportedly his girlfriend of five months, took sleeping pills in what appeared to be a suicide attempt following their breakup.
A woman who identified herself as Mingus’ girlfriend was seen leaving the police precinct hours after his arrest and told reporters the situation was a “misunderstanding.” The defense maintains that Mingus is presumed innocent and has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday, August 26. The case continues to develop as more details emerge, drawing attention to the challenges faced by celebrity families in the public eye when personal matters become legal issues.
