An incident occurred in Tampa, Florida, where a chemistry student was apprehended for injecting a harmful opioid substance into a neighbor’s doorway. The arrest was facilitated by Umar Abdullah, a local resident who had installed a surveillance camera that captured Xuming Li’s illicit actions.
Abdullah and his family had relocated to the area in June 2022, and shortly after their arrival, they received complaints from Li regarding noise emanating from their residence. Li specifically voiced concerns about disturbances caused by the relocation of a toilet, which he claimed disrupted his sleep.
Over time, Abdullah’s family started to suffer from symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
Abdullah indicated that a companion of his was the initial person to detect the scent of chemicals during a package drop-off while they were away on a family vacation.
Upon their homecoming, they too became aware of the odor. While a few individuals likened it to the aroma of nail polish remover, Abdullah remarked that the odor was even more disagreeable.
Neighbor from hell Xuming Li allegedly contaminated the Florida family's doorstep with so much 'chemical agent' their baby got sick. pic.twitter.com/a9UKa10akO
— Joseph Morris (@JosephMorrisYT) August 25, 2023
Consequently, Umar opted to undertake certain home maintenance measures in order to identify the origin of the unpleasant scent. He enlisted the services of an air conditioning company, which asserted that no issues were detected.
A plumber was then summoned to inspect the water heater, believed to be the source of the odor, yet no irregularities were uncovered in that regard.
Despite the cleaning of the air ducts and vents, the odor endured, refusing to dissipate.
Following an exhaustive investigation within the residence to pinpoint the origin of the disagreeable scent, Abdullah stumbled upon a crevice in the corner of the front door. This discovery led him to the realization that a syringe could potentially be inserted through this aperture.
Taking proactive measures, Umar made the choice to install a discreet camera on the exterior of his dwelling. Subsequently, upon confirming his daughter’s recurring illness, Abdullah scrutinized the recorded footage from the camera and unveiled Xuming Li’s endeavor.
The video footage depicted Abdullah’s downstairs neighbor assuming a crouched position in front of his front door, although the angle captured was not sufficiently clear to discern the exact nature of the activity taking place.
On a separate occasion, Abdullah adjusted the camera’s position and observed his neighbor extracting a syringe, loading it with liquid, and subsequently introducing the liquid into the crevice within Abdullah’s door frame.
Abdullah promptly evacuated his family and contacted law enforcement. Subsequently, Li was apprehended and faced multiple charges, encompassing possession of a controlled substance and theft.
As per a statement issued by the Tampa Police Department, a hazardous materials assessment disclosed that the liquid substance labeled a “chemical agent” contained methadone and hydrocodone, both opioid pain-relievers.
Presently, Li has been released on bail, as reported by WFLA, and his upcoming court appearance is slated for December 5. Furthermore, he is confronted with legal actions from Abdullah, including a lawsuit for domestic violence, as well as from the condominium association for breaching contractual obligations.
Li’s legal representative affirmed that his client has entered a plea of not guilty, with the assurance that all pertinent details will be unveiled at the appropriate juncture.
