A shocking incident unfolded as a chemistry student was caught on a hidden camera allegedly injecting an opioid “chemical agent” underneath a neighbor’s front door, causing the family and their newborn baby to become ill.
Upon moving into their new Tampa apartment in June 2022, Umar Abdullah and his pregnant wife received a warm welcome from other residents in the building.
Issues arose when Abdullah’s neighbor Xuming Li, who lived downstairs, started complaining to Abdullah about disturbances, such as losing sleep and hearing the toilet seat move.
Following months of disputes, Abdullah and his family began experiencing dizziness and vomiting.
Describing the situation, Abdullah mentioned how his daughter showed signs of discomfort, with her eyes filled with tears, despite not crying.
The discovery of a chemical smell by a friend while retrieving a package for Abdullah led to a series of inspections, including checks by the air conditioning company and a plumber, which failed to detect any issues.
Despite replacing the water heater and cleaning the air ducts and vents, the chemical odors persisted, prompting Abdullah to seek help from the fire department.
Even after various tests, including hazmat testing, yielded no results, Abdullah’s suspicion fell upon his neighbor Yi, leading him to set up a hidden camera outside.
When Abdullah’s daughter fell sick again, he reviewed the footage and discovered Yi crouching near his door, although his activities were not initially clear.
Further adjustment of the camera angle allowed Abdullah to capture footage of Yi using a syringe to inject liquid into the crack of Abdullah’s door frame, prompting him to take his family out of the home and contact the authorities.
Subsequently, Li was arrested by Tampa police and faced several serious charges, including possession of a controlled substance and burglary.
A hazmat test confirmed the presence of a “liquid chemical agent” containing a combination of opioid pain medications methadone and hydrocodone.
Li, a PhD chemistry student at the University of Southern Florida, had not been enrolled since the summer 2023 semester ended, as confirmed by the school.
Following his release on bond, Li is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 5 and is also dealing with legal action from Abdullah for domestic violence and from the condo association for breach of contract.
