A mother in Inglewood says she is outraged after surveillance video showed a daycare employee throwing a shoe that struck her 5-year-old daughter, who has special needs.
The incident happened January 16 at Destiny Development Center, where the child had been enrolled for about three years. Security footage from inside the facility shows a staff member removing her shoe and throwing it in the direction of the child. The girl can be heard crying loudly after being hit. Two other employees were present at the time, and one appeared to be laughing while the incident unfolded.
The child’s mother, Michelae Jones, said her daughter told her about what happened the same night. She contacted the daycare director soon after but said it took more than two weeks before she was allowed to review the surveillance video herself.
Family members say the delay raised concerns about how closely the facility monitors its own footage and safety procedures. The child’s aunt questioned why staff had not identified or reported the incident internally and why the family had to learn about it directly from the child.
According to the daycare’s director, Danielle Williams, she opened an internal investigation once the complaint was raised. She initially told the family the caregiver claimed she was tossing shoes into another room where they did not belong and that the child was accidentally struck. Williams stated the facility does not tolerate abuse and said employees go through background checks and training before being hired.
After reviewing the footage, the daycare terminated the staff member who threw the shoe, identified only as “Ms. Emily.” Two additional employees who witnessed the incident were first suspended for failing to report it, then later fired after further review.
Jones said she does not believe an apology is enough and wants criminal charges pursued, saying she believes the act should be treated as assault and child abuse. She also expressed concern that the situation may not have been a one-time occurrence.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is now investigating the incident.