Daycare Worker Caught Throwing a Shoe at a Black 5-Year-Old Special Needs Girl While Another Staffer Laughs

A disturbing surveillance video captured an employee at a daycare centre removing her shoe and hurling it at a 5-year-old girl with special needs, striking the child in what authorities are now treating as a serious abuse incident.

Destiny Development Centre, a childcare facility in Inglewood, California, confirmed that the incident occurred on 16 January 2026.

In the footage, the worker is seen taking off her shoe and throwing it across the room, where it hits the girl, causing her to cry. Two other staffers in the room were visible and did not intervene; one appears to laugh.

The video was shared by a parent on social media before it was turned over to local law enforcement. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has since launched an investigation into the incident.

Daycare Director's Response and Staff Terminations

Director Danielle Williams issued a statement acknowledging the footage and the centre's actions in response. She apologised to the girl and her family, saying the incident was hard for staff to watch and affirming that the centre does not stand for abuse.

Williams confirmed that all three staff members present during the incident have been terminated following an internal review. She said the centre conducted interviews and reviewed hours of video footage to determine the date and nature of the event.

In her statement, Williams said that the employee involved had not previously displayed behaviour that suggested she would harm a child, and claimed that the staff member described the incident as an attempt to remove shoes improperly left in the classroom, a claim that parents and witnesses have strongly disputed.

The centre's public statement also stressed that it follows rigorous hiring procedures, including background checks and training, and that the episode does not reflect its values or 15-year history of serving families.

The Los Angeles County Department of Social Services was reportedly notified of the incident as required and issued a violation notice under state childcare regulations.

Family Outrage and Community Concerns

The girl's mother, identified in local reports as Michelae Jones, expressed profound shock and outrage after viewing the footage. She told reporters that she had believed her daughter was safe in the facility, having trusted the daycare for three years.

Jones said her daughter informed her of the incident on the night it occurred. The mother said she confronted centre management but was not shown the footage until approximately two weeks later.

The child's aunt, Kira Townsend, also criticised the daycare's handling of the matter. She questioned why surveillance footage was not routinely reviewed and why no staff intervened in the classroom as the incident unfolded.

Townsend said the reactions of the other staff present suggested a troubling level of complacency, and she has publicly voiced concerns about the centre's safety protocols.

Jones and Townsend have called for criminal charges against the worker who threw the shoe and those who failed to report it. 'You need to be in jail like any other child abuser,' Jones said, according to local news accounts.

Community members have also expressed shock and anger on social media, questioning how such behaviour could occur in a setting entrusted with caring for children and why it took a parent's complaint for the footage to be reviewed.

Investigation and Legal Framework

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is conducting an active investigation into the incident. Law enforcement has not yet released details of any charges, but the department's involvement signals the seriousness with which authorities are treating the case.

Under California law, childcare providers are mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse. Failure to report abuse can itself be a criminal offence, and professionals working with children are subject to strict licensing and background check requirements.

The California Department of Social Services' Community Care Licensing Division oversees licensed childcare facilities and has the authority to impose fines, suspend licences or take other enforcement actions following violations of state regulations. Violation notices, such as the one reportedly issued to the centre, can trigger administrative reviews and potential sanctions.

Investigators are expected to review employment records, the centre's reporting protocols, and the extent to which state regulatory requirements were followed. Any criminal referrals to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office may lead to formal charges, though no such filings have been publicly disclosed at this time.

The footage may be shocking, but it has forced a necessary reckoning on how children are protected in care — and whether oversight mechanisms are robust enough to prevent tragedy.