Influencer Kindra Hall had a frightening encounter when out and about in New York City.
“On Wednesday, May 14th, around 10:30am I was punched in the head by a passing stranger,” the author, 44, wrote via Instagram on Tuesday, May 22. “I wasn’t going to post this as a reel … but there are a few pieces of the story I hadn’t shared and I think they are important for my UES community and fellow NYers to know.”
In the post, Hall included a clip of surveillance footage from the event which showed her getting punched and knocked down on the ground while on a walk.
“FIRST. I wasn’t on my phone when it happened. I wasn’t distracted,” she continued. “It wasn’t an unsafe hour. I even made note of the guy when I saw him, but it wasn’t until I saw a strange flick in his hand (you can see in the footage) that I realized something wasn’t right.”
Hall grabbed her phone and recorded the stranger who then threatened to “slit” her throat, according to the footage. The stranger also shared a location where Hall could find him. The motivational speaker then called the police and wanted to file a report. Hall claimed to have issues with the authorities.
“SECOND. The police took [approx] 30 min to arrive and once they did, even after showing the video with the guy shouting threats, acted like it wasn’t a big deal,” she alleged. “I remember saying, ‘So since I’m not bleeding, a punch to the head is ok?!’”
She continued: “THIRD. When I refused to back down and only after I told them I had a headache … They agreed to go to the address the man shouted in the video and MADE ME GO WITH THEM, despite having video footage clearly identifying him.”
Hall added that making her confront her assaulter was a “terrifying” experience. She also claimed that the police did not assist in getting the security footage, that was something she and her husband, Michael, accomplished.
“The cops walked into the nail salon when I pointed out the camera, but said only the owner had access to the footage,” she said. “Michael, my husband, went back later and the salon happily put him in touch with the owner who immediately found the footage and sent it to him. It took five minutes.”
While the incident was scary for Hall, she expressed how “grateful” she was that it wasn’t “worse.” Hall sustained “some swelling at the point of impact” near her jaw and ear. She also had ”a headache.”
“I’m grateful it was me and not someone who couldn’t take the hit or the fall. I’m hopeful the man gets the help and services he clearly needs. And I’m heartbroken and furious that this is how it is — so much apathy,” she wrote. “Stay safe and stay aware. And if it happens to you, don’t let anyone convince you to let it go. The problem is SO big and SO layered but pretending nothing can be done is not the solution. I ❤️???? NYC.”
