ABC News anchor Kyra Phillips revealed Monday that she was mugged by a “half-dressed” homeless man just two blocks from the network’s Washington bureau, underscoring what she described as the everyday reality of crime in the nation’s capital — despite official statistics claiming crime is down.
Phillips shared the story on-air while reporting on President Trump’s decision to place the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and deploy the National Guard to the streets.
“Scary as Hell” Encounter
“In the past six months, there were two people shot, one killed, just two blocks from our bureau,” Phillips said. “It was within the last two years that I was jumped walking just two blocks from here.”
She recalled the attack, describing her assailant as homeless, “half-dressed,” and “clearly not in his clear mind.” With no visible weapon in his hands, Phillips said she decided to fight back. “It was scary as hell, I’m not going to lie, but I fought back. I felt like it was my only choice.”
ABC ANCHOR: “Here in Downtown D.C., where we work, right here around our bureau, just in the past 6 months, there were 2 people shot…Literally, 2 blocks away.”
“I actually was jumped walking just 2 blocks down from here.”
“This morning, my coworker’s car was stolen.” pic.twitter.com/W32oufHHC7
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 11, 2025
Crime Impacting Residents Daily
Phillips noted her experience was far from unique. “It’s happened to a lot of people in our building,” she said, adding that just that morning, a co-worker’s car was stolen a block away.
“We can talk about the numbers going down, but crime is happening every single day because we’re all experiencing it firsthand, working and living down here,” she said.
Trump: DC “Overtaken” by Criminals
President Trump blasted conditions in the city, saying D.C. has been “overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people.”
He vowed to clear homeless encampments from public spaces, including parks and underpasses, and said his administration “is not going to let it happen anymore.”
Questions Over Crime Data
D.C. police statistics show violent crime down 26% and overall crime down 7% compared to 2024. Trump dismissed those numbers as “phony” and said Attorney General Pam Bondi will investigate.
The president pointed to last month’s suspension of a D.C. police commander accused of falsifying crime data to make trends appear more favorable.
She should’ve said “Not tonight, Senator…”