Influencer Kindra Hall Attacked in NYC, Criticizes Police Response to Disturbing Assault

22 May 2025

Courtesy of Kindra Hall/Instagram

Kindra Hall, a popular motivational speaker and influencer known for her storytelling expertise and inspiring social media content, was the victim of a violent, random attack in New York City last week. The incident has not only left Hall physically and emotionally shaken but has also ignited a conversation about public safety and the responsiveness of law enforcement in urban areas.

The attack took place in broad daylight as Hall was walking through the city. Surveillance footage captured the shocking moment when a man, later identified as 43-year-old Yao Reed, approached her and suddenly punched her in the head without warning. The force of the impact caused Hall to fall backward onto the sidewalk, narrowly missing the busy street.

In the aftermath, Hall, displaying a remarkable presence of mind, pulled out her phone and recorded Reed walking away. In the footage, he is seen turning around and shouting his home address at her, taunting her to “come find” him. Hall shared the video on social media, where it quickly went viral, drawing outrage and sympathy from followers and public figures alike.

Hall immediately contacted the police and shared the surveillance footage as well as the video she captured. However, she said it took over 30 minutes for officers to arrive on the scene. Upon their arrival, Hall expressed deep disappointment at how the situation was handled. According to her, the officers were initially dismissive and reluctant to take decisive action, even though they had clear evidence and the suspect’s name and location.

“What shook me almost more than the attack was the apathy,” Hall later stated in an emotional video post. “I gave them everything they needed to arrest this man, and yet they hesitated. I had to beg them to take me seriously.”

Eventually, the police agreed to accompany Hall to the location Reed had called out in the video. There, he was taken into custody and charged with third-degree assault. Despite the arrest, Hall continued to express concern over the systemic issues that led to such a delayed and apathetic response from law enforcement.

She stressed that the issue is bigger than just one incident and that the city needs to address how crimes like these are handled, especially when they occur in public spaces and are backed by immediate, clear evidence. Hall also noted that while she was lucky enough to have the resources and platform to advocate for herself, many others in similar situations might not.

In a hopeful closing note, Hall expressed her desire for her attacker to receive the psychological support he needs. “I don’t want him to do this to anyone else, and I hope he gets help,” she said.

The incident has sparked renewed calls for NYPD accountability and better training for officers when responding to random acts of violence. Hall’s bravery in publicly sharing her story has led many to applaud her resilience and demand reforms.