A Florida mother is angry after Tyler Chambers, a white man, threatened to shoot her nine-year-old daughter, Sincere, who came to sell candy on his doorstep.
Following the incident, on April 14, Chambers, a resident of Riverview, uploaded a picture of Sincere to a community Facebook group with the caption, “Your lucky we weren’t home to shoot your a** dumb b****.”
Even though he deleted the message, it had already gone viral and generated a lot of response from people who were enraged by his comments about the child.
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As reported by the Daily Mail, Chambers, before he deactivated his account, claimed that the girl was serving as a “decoy” for an alleged break-in at his house, yet he offered no proof to back up his claim.
He later attempted to defend his actions and choice of words, stating, “I saw that on my camera and have a wife and 7-month-old at home, which I will protect as you would. I was hot when I posted it which is why I deleted it right away I could have handled it a lot different.” He said he intended to find the girl’s parents and “have a conversation with them.”
He continued, “But yes I could have handled it a lot different and wanted to apologize but I was trying to protect the family and it was the wrong way.”
The nine-year-old’s mother, Beyond Shabazz, later went on social media to tell her side of the story. According to Shabazz, her family lives in the same neighborhood as Chambers, and on that particular day, Sincere and her 11-year-old niece went to sell sweets in the neighborhood after returning home from school about 4 p.m.
She stated, “I wasn’t aware that they were out selling candy. I was home with my 1-year-old and my mother, who has just undergone brain surgery. Usually, when the kids come home, they go outside to play, and I’m only okay with it as long as she takes her older cousins with her.”
When she found out what had happened, Shabazz claimed to have phoned the police “immediately” and submitted a police report. Additionally, she stated that “because he and his wife thought it would be a good idea to lie publicly,” she has no interest in speaking with Chambers.
Shabazz then wrote that ‘there’s nothing wrong” with children selling candies in the neighborhood.
She remarked, “My kids were in their neighborhoods, not the streets, in broad daylight selling candy. There’s nothing wrong with kids going door to door selling candy. We have Girl Scouts come to our door selling cookies, and not once did we make them feel uncomfortable or post anything saying such words as what was used towards my daughter. We treat everybody with respect.”
She also shared a video that Chambers’ neighbor texted her showing her daughter trying to sell candy while knocking on their door. In a message between the mother and neighbor, they stated that Sincere “was not a threat.”
“I have my ring camera recording, and I even went out to speak with her and the other kid with her,” they added.
She started a GoFundMe campaign to help gather funds for her family’s legal expenses. Over $15,000 have already been raised.
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The angry mother also launched a Change.org petition to have Chambers detained for his internet threat against her daughter. Over 1,000 people have signed the petition.
She wrote, “Our lives were irrevocably altered when Tyler Chambers brazenly threatened my 9-year-old daughter online, stating in no uncertain terms that he wished harm upon her for simply knocking on his door.”
“His horrifying words, “YOU’RE LUCKY WE WEREN’T HOME TO SHOOT YOUR A**, DUMB B****” directed at my little girl, are still ringing in my ears. We must diligently and fervently strive to ensure our children’s safety above all.”
She added, “Therefore, we call for Tyler Chambers to be arrested and held accountable for his threats against a minor. Justice on this front would send a potent message to all potential offenders.”
Several social media users have demanded that Chambers be sacked from his position as general manager of Tampa’s Mister Car Wash. Since the incident, some people have also posted a ton of harsh remarks about the company online.
