A Ring doorbell clip racing around social media appears to show an Instacart delivery worker chasing down and slapping a young boy in the hallway outside a St. Augustine apartment. In the footage, the child, who looks to be about 5 or 6 years old, drops a case of bottled water, then runs as the worker goes after him. The homeowner says he called police to file a child-abuse report, and the video has quickly set off a wave of outrage across the community.
Officials open probe after viral clip
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office says its Special Victims Unit is now investigating the incident, according to St. Johns Citizen. That outlet reports the video was posted by St. Augustine business owner Shawn White and is timestamped at about 12:06 p.m. on May 31. County officials have not released any information about identifying a possible suspect while the investigation is underway.
Instacart removes shopper and responds
Instacart told Action News Jax that the person seen in the video has been permanently removed from the platform and that the company "has zero tolerance for violence of any kind." The company also reiterated that its rules bar shoppers from bringing anyone without a valid shopper account on deliveries, including children, and said it plans to cooperate with investigators as needed.
What the footage shows
The clip shows a woman handing a large case of bottled water to a young boy, who appears to lose his grip and drop the package before the woman runs after him and strikes him while shouting profanity, as detailed in local coverage. The homeowner who posted the video has said the groceries were too heavy for the child and that he filed a report with law enforcement after sharing the footage online. The station that first published the video reports it has been shared more than a thousand times across social media, drawing hundreds of angry comments and calls for accountability.
How to report concerns
The homeowner says he contacted police to make a child-abuse report, and the sheriff’s office has taken the footage into evidence as part of its investigation. In Florida, members of the public who suspect child abuse can contact the Florida Abuse Hotline, and the Department of Children and Families offers a toll-free number along with online reporting options on its website. If a child appears to be in immediate danger, the agency instructs people to call 911 first, then follow up with the hotline.
Where things stand
Authorities have not yet said whether any charges will be filed, and media outlets following the case say they will update coverage as agencies release more information. Local reporting notes that community tips have helped steer investigators toward possible leads, and both law enforcement and Instacart say the situation remains under review.
