Share and Follow
Background: J.C. Nalle Elementary School in Washington, D.C. (Google Maps). Inset: David Griggs and his mother, Shanice Griggs (Griggs family/WUSA/YouTube).
A teacher’s aide in a Washington, D.C., public school is facing allegations of placing hot sauce in the mouth of a nonverbal student and justifying the act by saying, “he deserved it.”
Court records, accessed by Law&Crime, indicate that Imani Davis, whose age has not been disclosed, is charged with simple assault concerning 9-year-old David Griggs. During a recent status hearing, Davis entered a not guilty plea and was presented with a plea bargain that could result in probation, according to the family’s attorney, as reported by local CBS affiliate WUSA.
The alleged incident took place on September 11, 2025, at J.C. Nalle Elementary School in Washington, D.C. David, who is nonverbal and has autism, was in a special education class under the supervision of Davis.
According to a police report examined by a local TV station, a witness observed Davis donning gloves, applying hot sauce to her finger, and then placing it in the child’s mouth. This witness subsequently reported the situation to a supervisor, who contacted the authorities.
Shanice Griggs, David’s mother, expressed her distress over the incident to WUSA in October, stating, “The principal informed me that the classroom aide put gloves on and inserted hot sauce into my son’s mouth. You harmed my child in a place where I should feel comfortable leaving him. I demand she faces charges and be barred from working with special needs children again. What if she harms other children?”
After the alleged assault, the principal of the school sent a letter to families notifying them of the allegation. “I want to acknowledge that this news is concerning and emphasize that the safety and well-being of our students remain paramount,” the letter reads.
The aide was placed on leave after the investigation commenced. The charge against her was handed down in November.
Davis, who had reportedly been working at the school for a month when the incident occurred, was apparently unrepentant, with the witness telling police that the aide said she committed the act because the boy “deserved it.”
Griggs said her son loved to go to school before the incident, but afterward, he was “traumatized.” She added that she got home from work that day and her son couldn’t tell her what happened because he’s nonverbal.
“And you knew that,” Griggs told the area’s Fox affiliate, WTTG, referencing the woman. “What type of human being is that?”
J.C. Nalle Elementary School’s website has an Imani Davis listed as a paraprofessional under its special education team.
A status hearing is scheduled for Davis on March 9.