Mingus Lucien Reedus, the son of The Walking Dead star Norman Reedus and supermodel Helena Christensen, recently made headlines following his arrest in New York City for an alleged assault. This incident has drawn significant attention due to Mingus’s high-profile parentage and his own rising career in the modelling industry.
Who is Mingus Reedus?
Mingus Lucien Reedus, born in 1999, is the only child of actor Norman Reedus and Danish supermodel Helena Christensen. Named after the legendary jazz musician Charles Mingus, he has carved out his own path in the fashion world, following in his mother’s footsteps. Mingus, now 25, has worked as a model since 2017, appearing in campaigns for major brands like Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Victoria’s Secret, where he posed alongside his mother for a Mother’s Day campaign. In 2021, he made his Vogue cover debut, gracing the cover of Vogue Hommes Paris for its fall-winter 2021-2022 issue.
Raised primarily in New York City, Mingus grew up in the spotlight due to his parents’ fame. Norman Reedus, best known for his role as Daryl Dixon in The Walking Dead, and Helena Christensen, a former Victoria’s Secret Angel, were in a relationship from 1998 to 2003. Despite their split, they have maintained a strong co-parenting relationship, frequently sharing their pride in Mingus’s accomplishments on social media. Mingus graduated from New York University in 2023, an event celebrated by both parents.
Mingus Reedus’s Arrest for Assault
On August 23, 2025, Mingus Reedus was arrested in Manhattan, New York, following an alleged assault. According to police reports cited by Page Six, the incident occurred around 8:40 a.m. at an apartment on West 16th Street. Mingus, who resides in a luxury Chelsea apartment, is accused of striking a 33-year-old woman in the leg, causing visible redness, choking her, and slamming her to the ground. The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.
Mingus was charged with criminal obstruction of breathing and assault in the third degree, as confirmed by police sources. A New York Police Department spokesperson noted that he has not been formally charged, pending further investigation. This incident marks Mingus’s second run-in with the law, as he was previously arrested in September 2021 for allegedly punching a 24-year-old woman during the San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy. In that case, he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in March 2022, receiving a sentence of five private counseling sessions.
Previous Legal Issues
This is not the first time Mingus Reedus has had a run-in with the law. In September 2021, he was arrested for allegedly assaulting a woman in New York City. He was initially charged with misdemeanor assault. According to Mingus, the incident occurred after a group of women, who he claimed were intoxicated, followed and harassed him and his friends. He stated that he threw his arm out to protect himself and accidentally struck one of the women. In March 2022, he accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct. His sentence required him to attend five private counseling sessions.
Mingus Reedus’s Career
Despite his legal troubles, Mingus has established himself as a rising star in the modeling industry. His striking resemblance to his mother, Helena Christensen, has helped him secure high-profile gigs, including runway appearances at New York and London Fashion Weeks. His Vogue Hommes cover in 2021, which came just a week before his first arrest, showcased his growing influence in fashion.
