Washington, D.C. – May 7, 2025 — A grieving daughter is demanding justice and answers after her father, 55-year-old Donnel Bracket Phillips, was brutally killed in what authorities are calling a premeditated robbery-murder. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, and police have arrested 17-year-old Kyree Young, who is now facing charges of first-degree murder while armed, a serious felony offense.
Young is accused of following Phillips from an ATM on U Street, intentionally running him over with a stolen car, and then attempting to rob him while he lay dying on the pavement. Prosecutors allege Young even returned to the same ATM in an effort to access Phillips’s bank account.
A Daughter’s Heartbreak
In an emotional and raw interview, Phillips’s daughter Tyshia Johnson opened up about the depth of her loss and the pain of knowing her father died in such a violent way.
“I love him so much. I love him,” she said tearfully. “I can’t get his hug. I can’t get an ‘I love you, baby girl.’ I can’t get that anymore. There’s nothing that can replace his hug.”
Johnson described herself as “the ultimate daddy’s girl,” recalling memories of Sunday daddy-daughter dates, complete with matching outfits and her father’s unwavering support throughout her life. She credits him with helping her become the woman she is today.
“I was able to graduate from college with a good rank in my class with a baby — only because of my dad,” she said. “Only because of my dad. Nobody else cared if I had a future. My dad did. My dad did.”
A Premeditated Act of Violence
According to court documents and surveillance footage, Young and a group of accomplices had stolen a vehicle and committed multiple robberies before spotting Phillips at the ATM just before 4 a.m. Phillips had just finished his overnight shift as a concierge and was on his way home.
Authorities say the teens followed Phillips after he withdrew money. When he crossed the street, they accelerated, striking him with the vehicle. Once Phillips was on the ground, the suspects allegedly approached his body and attempted to access his bank account using the ATM he had just left.
“They hit him, and then they went right back to the ATM, like he was nothing,” Johnson said. “They left him there to die.”
A Search for the Truth — and Other Suspects
While Kyree Young has been arrested and is being charged as an adult, Johnson believes others were involved and is pleading for more action from law enforcement.
“There were two other people. Where are they?” she asked. “Where are the two other people that were inside the car?”
Investigators have confirmed that additional suspects were involved, and the Metropolitan Police Department continues to search for those individuals. So far, no further arrests have been announced.
A Community in Mourning
The community has been shaken by the incident, which highlights the continuing challenges of youth violence and street crime in Washington, D.C. Johnson’s heartfelt testimony has sparked a wave of support, but also frustration over how such senseless acts of violence continue to take place.
“He’d say, ‘These kids are crazy these days,’” Johnson said. “That’s exactly what happened. He saw it coming. He just didn’t think it would be him.”
Her grief is compounded by the knowledge that her father likely would have helped his assailants if given the chance.
“My father would have given them anything they wanted,” she said. “He didn’t deserve this.”
Justice and Its Limits
Though the arrest of Kyree Young offers some progress in the case, Johnson said it doesn’t bring the closure people think it does.
“People say, ‘Oh, justice, because they found the suspect.’ Whose justice is that?” she asked. “Is that society’s? That’s not my justice. This is my real life.”
Johnson is now left grappling not only with her father’s death, but with the trauma of how it happened and the future court proceedings that will reopen wounds again and again. Young’s next court appearance is scheduled for July, and he is expected to be tried as an adult.
Remembering Donnel Phillips
Phillips’s family describes him as a dedicated father, a hard worker, and a man who lived for his family. The impact of his loss ripples far beyond the family he left behind.
“He wasn’t just my dad,” Johnson said. “He was a provider, a mentor, a light in so many people’s lives. He made people feel seen, respected. He was love.”
The family is asking anyone with information about the other individuals involved in the crime to come forward. Tips can be submitted anonymously to the D.C. police by calling (202) 727-9099 or texting 50411.
As Johnson and her family prepare to face a long road ahead in the pursuit of justice, one thing remains painfully clear — no arrest or court decision will bring back the man they lost.
“I have to learn how to be a new me now,” she said. “The me without my dad. And I don’t know how to do that yet.”
If you have any information about this case or the suspects involved, please contact the MPD. Every piece of information matters. Help bring the full truth to light.
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