An intervention at a Mississippi Walmart landed one woman in trouble with the cops and another out of work after onlookers stepped up to help a shivering child.
“When you see a child that’s being neglected…why wouldn’t we call the police?”
Wednesday in Byram, Mississippi a woman named Felicia took it upon herself to record and later publish video of a shopper with a young child dressed in nothing more than a diaper and trash bag. According to The Weather Channel, the high temperature in the area of the Walmart Supercenter was 41 degrees with a recorded low of 25.
“Lower your voice,” the presumed mother could be heard saying to one customer attempting to intervene on the child’s behalf.
Moments before, as she was being confronted, the woman could be seen dropping a bag from the frozen food aisle directly onto the bare legs of the boy.
Sharing the video which had received over 8.5 million views on his account alone, Collin Rugg detailed, “Police reportedly called after small boy is seen in nothing but a diaper and uncontrollably shivering as his mother refuses to give him warm clothes.”
NEW: Police reportedly called after small boy is seen in nothing but a diaper and uncontrollably shivering as his mother refuses to give him warm clothes.
Luckily, one apparent shopper felt so bad that they grabbed a pair of clothes to put on him.
It’s sad that a random shopper… pic.twitter.com/LSBpgmprTX
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 23, 2024
Rounding the corner, twerking at those acting on behalf of the child, the woman was unmoved by threats of police involvement as she said child protective services had already been called on her twice before while mentioning something about a fire extinguisher and hot water.
Later in the recording, an older woman of no known relation could be seen dressing the boy in clothes pulled from a rack in the store as the mother stood idly by engrossed in her phone.
On her TikTok account, Felicia shared another video where she said it was her understanding that the boy was in the custody of his grandmother now after cops were involved. “Yes we did call the police. I mean, why wouldn’t we? Why wouldn’t we? That’s a crazy a** question to ask.”
“When you see a child that’s being neglected, don’t have on any clothes, just a diaper, no shoes, no socks, no shirt, no nothing. So why wouldn’t we call the police?” she said.
@feenicole8Grandmother has her kids !!! Dont know if its true but someone told me that !! So there you have it♬ original sound – Fee Nicole
The outcome was hardly positive for Felicia herself however, as she detailed in a crowdfunding effort for some interim financial support that her attempt to do the right thing had cost her her job.
“No I wasn’t thinking about the consequences at the time, At that time my main focus was on that innocent poor [child, and] to get him some help. Yes I posted the video on my facebook page [because] I wanted to reach out to some of her family members, and case workers,” she explained.
After more than 3,000 views in an hour, Felicia said her manager contacted her to pull it down and she complied. When she returned to work on Saturday, she said she was terminated two hours before the end of her shift.
“I was only trying to help and save that [baby’s] life.”
— Githii (@githii) January 24, 2024
Reactions on social media were overwhelmingly supportive and grateful to those who intervened on behalf of the child.
See something, say something.
People simply cannot turn a blind eye to the abuse or neglect of those most vulnerable- pets, children, elderly.
— Kevin M. Nelson (@KevinMNelsonUSA) January 23, 2024
What a terrible mother. Throws frozen food on his freezing body. The boy did not move? He’s been severely abused too afraid to have basic normal reactions.
This is sickening!
— @magirly9☮️ (@Magirly9) January 24, 2024
Another heartbreaking example of parental neglect caught on camera. How did we get to a point where the average citizen has to intervene for the basic well-being of a child? It’s a stark reminder of the breakdown of responsibility in our society.
— Jane Adams (@iLoveJaneAdams) January 23, 2024
It would be impossible for me not to grab that baby and hold him next to my body until he warmed up and stopped shaking. If this woman treats him like this in public, just imagine what is happening to him in private. I hope her children are removed and placed into a safe, loving…
— Dr. Abby Johnson (@AbbyJohnson) January 24, 2024
It’s nice to see the public standing up and doing something about this kid. So many would have “minded their own business”. These citizens are heroes.
— That Guy (@serenityNow85) January 24, 2024
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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