On the evening of June 7, 2023, Umar Abdullah, a 36-year-old resident of Tampa Bay, Florida, returned to his apartment with his wife, Samira, and their 10-month-old daughter after a trip to Ohio. As soon as they entered their home, they were met with a strange, unfamiliar smell. It wasn’t the smell of rotten food or trash; it was a peculiar chemical odor, reminiscent of paint and other chemicals. Concerned, they searched their apartment for the source but found nothing unusual.
Initially, Umar and Samira suspected maintenance work might have been done in their absence, despite not being informed beforehand. To clear the air, they opened all the windows and lit a candle. The smell soon dissipated, and they began to unpack and settle in. However, their baby, who was usually cheerful and easygoing, became unusually fussy and refused to eat. Umar and Samira attributed it to the heat and closed the windows, letting the air conditioning cool the apartment.
Despite their efforts, their baby’s fussiness persisted, and both parents developed headaches. Assuming it was just the strain of travel, they took some painkillers and went to bed, hoping for a better morning. Unfortunately, their symptoms worsened over the next few days. Umar’s headache became debilitating, and Samira was extremely lethargic. Their baby continued to cry and even began vomiting.
By June 14, a week after their return, things took a darker turn. Umar discovered chunks of their baby’s hair had fallen out overnight. Frantically, they searched online for explanations but found none that matched their situation. They decided to visit a doctor, and while preparing to leave, Umar noticed his own hair falling out in clumps during a shower. Realizing that something in their apartment might be causing their symptoms, Umar called the landlord and explained the situation.
The landlord was quick to act, sending various inspectors to check for gas leaks, mold, or other hazards. Despite the faint chemical smell still being noticeable, no issues were found. With no answers from the inspections and their health continuing to deteriorate, Umar took matters into his own hands. He began to suspect that something might be entering their apartment through a crack in the door.
On June 25, Umar smelled the chemical odor again and decided to investigate. He traced the smell to the front door and noticed a small crack at the base. The next day, he set up a hidden camera outside their door, aimed at the crack. Two days later, the camera captured a shocking scene: a man injecting something through the crack with a syringe. Umar immediately called the police.
The man in the video was identified as 36-year-old Xuming Li, their downstairs neighbor, who was a PhD student in chemistry. Xuming had been disturbed by the noise from Umar and Samira’s apartment and, despite their efforts to be quiet, had become obsessed and enraged. Using his chemistry knowledge, he concocted a deadly mixture of chemicals and began injecting it into their apartment to poison them.
Umar, Samira, and their baby were hospitalized and treated for poisoning. Thankfully, they made a full recovery. Xuming Li was arrested but later deported to China before being convicted. If he ever returns to the U.S., he will face immediate arrest.
This harrowing experience highlights the importance of being vigilant and taking swift action when faced with unexplained health issues. Umar and Samira’s quick thinking and determination to uncover the truth potentially saved their lives.