A homeless woman in Washington DC was accused online by two parents of crossing the street and spitting on their 11-month-old baby.
The father of the baby shared a post online describing what happened to his family. He began by writing, “I’m pretty angry but also having complicated feelings. Idk if I’m looking for advice, reassurance or what.” He said the incident occurred while his family was at the intersection of WV Ave and FL Ave. He noticed a homeless woman walking along the street and yelling seemingly to no one in particular.
When the father noticed the woman crossing the street, he did not initially think they needed to avoid her. “Don’t judge. You’ve seen plenty of being mentally unstable here that have never posed a threat,” he recalled telling himself. What happened moments later, however, was shocking.
According to the father, the homeless woman crossed the street while traffic was heavy before allegedly kneeling down and spitting on his 11-month-old baby. He said the fluid fortunately landed on the baby’s onesie and stroller strap rather than directly on the child. The father immediately confronted the woman, saying that “it took every once of will power not to physically strike this woman.”
While the father tried not to escalate the situation, he said the woman continued “goading” him to hit her. His wife attempted to stop him, telling him “no.” He also considered how an altercation could be perceived because of their races. “In the split second while confronting her I thought about the optics of a 220 pound white guy striking a 100 point black woman. No way would that have look good, more so if someone filmed without the spot. But my God it was not easy,” he wrote.
He admitted that he felt conflicted about what had happened. “She was clearly mentally unstable, 100 pounds, and pretty sure unhoused,” he wrote. His wife also recognized the woman from the area and was upset by what happened. She had seen the woman crossing the street as well but, like her husband, did not move the stroller because she did not want to judge her based on her behavior. The situation was especially difficult for his wife because she works with many unhoused people and had a sense of empathy toward them.
The father ended his post by saying, “I’m trying to forgive this lady because she is not mentally stable and dealing with homelessness, but dang I’m red hot right now. I see plenty of people with kids in this area (low and what I assume is high income), but NE DC does not feel like a healthy place for families.” After viewers expressed concern for the baby, he added in a comment, “We gave our baby a bath right away. Thankfully it was only on her onesie when we checked her over.” It remains unclear whether the parents plan to involve authorities in the incident.
Internet Users Outraged After Washington DC Homeless Woman Spits on Baby
The post sparked reactions online. Many internet users expressed outrage after reading the father’s account of what the Washington DC woman allegedly did to his baby. Some encouraged him to take further action and report the incident. “I’d be concerned for health reasons. I’d contact the police. They’re most likely aware of her. It’s their job to talk to her,” one person wrote. Another suggested, “If it’s possible, to be on the safe side, I’d report this to your child’s pediatrician as well.” Someone else added, “I’m sorry this happened to you and your baby. No excuses.”
Others advised the father to be more cautious around people who may be experiencing homelessness or mental health issues in the future. One person wrote, “Listen to that voice next time. It’s not judgment, it’s self-preservation. I do not judge people for having mental health issues, dealing with addiction, being young and obnoxious, or experiencing homelessness. But if someone gives me any inkling that they may begin behaving in a way that puts me or anyone with me in danger, I will judge the hell out of THAT every single time. You should never regret crossing the street, turning around, or changing metro cars. You and your family’s life and peace are too important,” one person said.
The incident also led some viewers to question how parents should respond when they encounter someone whose behavior appears unpredictable while they are out with their children. Some argued that parents should trust their instincts and create distance when they feel a situation could become unsafe. This is particularly when a young child is involved. Others may caution against assuming that homelessness or mental illness itself makes someone dangerous, emphasizing that concerning behavior should be judged on its own rather than a person’s circumstances.
