Caught on camera: DC mom mugged by masked teens on bikes
WASHINGTON - A woman in Northwest D.C. is sharing her harrowing experience after being mugged in front of her neighbor’s house — the latest in a series of attacks that have left residents shaken and frustrated in the area.
Attack in Northwest DC
The backstory:
Courtney, who lives in the Crestwood neighborhood, was walking home from a bus stop on 16 Street when she was attacked by three teens on bikes. Security footage captured the moment they knocked her to the ground, stole her backpack, and ran off.
"It’s kind of nauseating," Courtney said from her home, less than 24 hours after the assault. "I was being yanked around like a ragdoll. I’m not used to feeling helpless."
Her backpack contained her laptop, driver’s license, and credit cards, though the attackers left her phone behind.
Courtney sustained a bruise on her face and said the incident has deeply affected her family.
"I have small children. They were all very worried about me," she said. "We had guests over for dinner, so we had two families completely overwhelmed by this. The children are all quite worried."
Courtney’s attack occurred less than a half-mile from where a piano teacher was mugged last week in 16 Street Heights. That attack, also caught on camera, happened around 7 p.m. while the victim was walking to a bus stop.
What they're saying:
Residents believe the same group of young people may be responsible for these crimes.
"Evidently, this is kids without supervision," said Gus McLeod, a D.C. resident. "Hopefully they’re found, get some supervision, and get straightened out. But this is unusual for here."
Massie Ritsch, who lives in Crestwood, recalled another incident last month involving a neighbor who was threatened with a gun while sitting in his car.
"These young people are terrorizing neighborhoods," Courtney said. "We are all rattled. I don’t understand how it’s possible that we can’t make this stop."
Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George expressed concern about the string of muggings and called on D.C. police to step up patrols.
"All of our citizens deserve to live in peace and safety," she said. "We don’t have that right now."
Police are continuing to investigate these incidents and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
The Source: The information in this story comes from FOX 5 DC reporting, and D.C. Police.