A 9-year-old Black girl from Florida is at the center of growing national outrage after a disturbing doorbell image of her was posted to Facebook by a Tampa man who falsely accused her of being a decoy for a break-in and wrote, “Lucky we weren’t home to shoot you. Dumb bitch.”
The girl, identified as Sincere, was simply selling candy with her 11-year-old cousin on the afternoon of April 14 when Tyler Chambers, a general manager at Mister Car Wash in Tampa, shared her photo in a neighborhood group without evidence and made the alarming threat. The now-deleted post has since gone viral across TikTok and Facebook, sparking a wave of condemnation.
Her mother, Beyond Shabazz, says she had no idea the children had gone out selling candy that day. At the time, she was caring for her one-year-old and her own mother, who is recovering from brain surgery.
“I am just now seeing this all over my social media, and I immediately called the police to file a report,” Shabazz wrote on a newly launched GoFundMe campaign. “My daughter did not deserve this. This could have been anybody’s child.”
A Mother’s Call for Justice
Shabazz is now demanding accountability for what she describes as a racially motivated and dangerous post.
“This man said he would’ve shot my daughter. My 9-year-old child,” she wrote. “We need to protect our kids.”
The case is gaining traction online, with users sharing the image and calling for both criminal charges and job termination for Chambers. Since the backlash, Chambers has deactivated his Facebook account, and reports indicate that his family has fled their home.
The incident has reignited conversations around racism, gun violence, and the dangers of online vigilantism—particularly when it involves Black children simply existing in shared communities.
Community Outrage and Support
Social media users have rallied behind Sincere, with thousands expressing disbelief and fury that a child engaging in a classic neighborhood tradition—selling candy door-to-door—could be so viciously targeted.
“She could have been killed over candy,” one TikTok user commented. “Being Black should not be a threat.”
Shabazz’s GoFundMe campaign seeks both legal support and public awareness has so far raised close to the $12,000 target.
“We are heartbroken, but we are also strong,” she said. “My baby will know she is loved, protected, and defended.”
As of now, no charges have been filed. Police have confirmed the report was received and say the matter is under review.
