ABC News anchor Kyra Phillips revealed Monday that she was assaulted by a “half-dressed” homeless man near the network’s Washington, D.C., bureau, describing the incident as part of a larger pattern of daily crime in the city. Phillips made the comments during ABC News Live, citing her personal experience and recent crimes involving colleagues as evidence that crime remains a pressing problem despite official claims of improvement.
“In the past six months, there were two people shot, one person died, literally two blocks down from the bureau,” Phillips said. “Just this morning, one of my co-workers said her car was stolen a block away.” She recounted that within the last two years, she was “jumped” by a homeless man who “wasn’t in his clear mind.” Phillips said she fought back, noting she saw no weapon in his hands and felt she had no other choice.
Phillips argued that while officials may tout declining crime statistics, those who live and work in the city still face threats regularly. “It’s happened to a lot of people in our building,” she added, saying crime in downtown D.C. is something “we’re all experiencing firsthand.”
Her comments came as she discussed President Donald Trump’s recent decision to take control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and deploy National Guard troops to the streets. Trump declared the city had been “overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people,” vowing to restore safety and order.
Phillips acknowledged Trump’s plan also aims to address homelessness, noting that some members of the homeless population commit acts of violence. “Sadly, like what happened to me,” she said, linking her assault to the broader problem.
