Nationwide — Tyler Chambers, a man from Riverview, Florida, who is white, sparked outrage after he posted a photo of a 9-year-old African American girl who rang his doorbell to sell candy, saying he should’ve shot her. The post quickly went viral, and Chambers later deleted his Facebook account.Chambers shared a photo from his doorbell camera, showing 9-year-old Sincere Shabazz, and wrote, “You’re lucky we weren’t home to shoot your a– dumb b—-.” The post quickly spread, drawing widespread criticism for the violent and racist nature of his words.
According to Atlanta Black Star, Chambers later deleted the post and explained that he had reacted impulsively out of fear after seeing the girl on his camera. He claimed she was part of a possible break-in attempt but offered no evidence to support his accusation. Chambers said he intended to apologize to the girl’s parents but was met with criticism instead.
The girl’s mother, Beyond Shabazz, said her daughter and niece were simply selling candy in their neighborhood when they stopped by Chambers’ house. After seeing the post, she filed a police report. Shabazz also rejected Chambers’ attempts to contact her, saying she was angered by the lies and hatred he spread.
Shabazz later started a GoFundMe campaign to support the legal battle ahead and expressed her desire for justice. She stated that her daughter no longer feels safe in their neighborhood.
People on social media identified Chambers as a general manager at a Mister Car Wash in Tampa and called for his termination from the job. The business has been flooded with complaints but hasn’t responded publicly. Police said Chambers and his family have since left their home after their address was posted online