A recent incident at a California day care center involved an employee throwing a shoe at a 5-year-old child with special needs, as shown in surveillance footage acquired by KTLA. In the video, the child care worker is seen removing her shoe and tossing it across the classroom, striking the child. When the worker approached, the child began to cry. Notably, two other staff members were present in the back of the room, with one seemingly laughing during the child’s distress.
Michelei Jones, the child’s mother, expressed her outrage over the situation after receiving the child’s account of the event that same night. She confronted the day care director following her child’s revelation but felt that the response from staff was insufficient. It wasn’t until two weeks later that she had the chance to view the surveillance footage.
Kira Townsend, the child’s aunt, raised concerns regarding the frequency of surveillance reviews at the center, asking why they only check footage when parents report something. “I’m just curious about their protocols,” she stated, emphasizing her disappointment that her niece had to recount being hit with a shoe for action to be taken.
According to Jones, the center’s director, Daniel Williams, claimed that staff were “throwing shoes into other rooms,” implying a misunderstanding. However, Jones is adamant about wanting to see criminal charges filed against the worker involved. “You should face consequences like any other child abuser,” she insisted, calling for justice.
Destiny Development Center, located in Inglewood, California, aims to create a nurturing educational space for children, emphasizing safety and emotional growth. In light of the incident, the worker accused of the assault and two witnesses have been terminated, but the investigation is ongoing, with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department looking into the matter.
Neither the LACSD nor Destiny Development Center responded immediately regarding the incident.
