Transcript for Boy accused of assault in NYC store video: ‘I felt humiliated’
Back here tonight and to an ABC news exclusive. The video seen by millions. A woman wrongly accusing a 9-year-old boy of grabbing her on camera, but it turned out to be a backpack. Now the mom and child are talking to linsey Davis. I was just sexually assaulted by a child. Reporter: 9-year-old Jeremiah Harvey was in a Brooklyn convenience store with his mother last week when Theresa Klein, who was dubbed on social media as “Corner store Caroline,” accused him of sexual assault and said she was calling the police. He grabbed my . Reporter: But surveillance video proved Jeremiah did not assault the woman. His backpack accidentally grazed her. It’s hard because I’ve had this on my mind. I can’t thinking of nothing but this. Reporter: That night, Jeremiah says he cried out of fear he or his mom would be taken away by police. And now, more than one week later, Jeremiah, still visibly traumatized by the incident. Arer — are you concerned this has permanently scarred Jeremiah? Yes, I am. Reporter: After watching the surveillance video, Klein did issue an apology. Young man, I don’t know your name, but I’m sorry. Reporter: Do you accept her apology? Yes. Yes, I do. That this is going to take some time. It’s going to take a lot of healing. Reporter: Healing and heartache. But beyond this hashtag, there is also hope. Jeremiah has emerged with a message. Friendship is the key. Reporter: Linsey Davis, ABC news, New York.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.