Inglewood Daycare Worker Throws Shoe at Special-Needs Child

Surveillance footage shows worker assaulting 5-year-old, leading to firings and investigations

Feb. 6, 2026 at 4:31pm

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Surveillance video from an Inglewood daycare center shows a worker throwing a shoe at a 5-year-old girl with special needs, leaving the child crying. The incident has led to the firing of the staffers involved and sparked investigations by state licensing officials and local law enforcement.

Why it matters

The disturbing incident at the Destiny Development Center has raised concerns about the treatment of vulnerable children in daycare settings and the need for stronger oversight and accountability measures to protect them.

The details

The video, shared on social media, appears to show a woman removing her shoe, winding up, and throwing it across the classroom at the young girl. Two other staffers are seen nearby, with one appearing to laugh as the child cries. The daycare's director said the footage was turned over to state authorities, and the workers shown were immediately fired following an internal review. The director claimed the aide said she only meant to "scare" the child, but the girl's mother expressed shock and horror at the incident and is pushing for criminal charges.

  • The incident occurred on February 6, 2026 at the Destiny Development Center in Inglewood, California.

The players

Destiny Development Center

A licensed daycare facility in Inglewood, California that is now under investigation following the incident.

Danielle Williams

The director of the Destiny Development Center who issued an apology video and said the workers involved were fired.

The 5-year-old girl

A child with special needs who was the victim of the assault by the daycare worker.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

Local detectives are reviewing the footage to determine whether the worker's actions meet the standard for criminal charges or a referral to the district attorney's office. The California Department of Social Services' Community Care Licensing Division, which oversees child care facilities, is also investigating the incident.

The takeaway

This disturbing incident highlights the need for stronger oversight and accountability measures in the daycare industry to protect vulnerable children from abuse and neglect. It also raises questions about the training and screening of daycare workers and the responsibility of staff to intervene when they witness inappropriate behavior toward children in their care.