A D.C. mother is suing the District and a former DCPS aide for $1.5 million after the aide put hot sauce in her autistic son's mouth.

The civil lawsuit, filed Tuesday, Sept. 15, names former educational aide Imani Karin Davis and the D.C. government. It alleges assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Shanice Griggs seeks more than $500,000 in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages against Davis, plus attorney's fees, according to Fox 5 DC. She is also seeking a jury trial.

The incident happened at J.C. Nalle Elementary School in Southeast D.C. A teacher witnessed Davis wearing a glove, dipping her finger in hot sauce and placing it in the 9-year-old nonverbal boy's mouth, DC News Now reported. When asked why, Davis told the teacher, "He deserved it," according to a police report cited in the coverage.

Davis pleaded guilty to assault charges in March 2026 and was sentenced to five months of probation and community service. She is no longer employed by DC Public Schools (DCPS).

Griggs said her son has changed since the incident.

"He don't like going to school no more," Griggs told DC News Now. "He used to love getting dressed in the morning, waiting for his school bus. Now he's fighting. Every time he sees hot sauce he just panics."

Attorney Malik Shabazz, who represents Griggs, said the lawsuit is meant to hold the school system accountable. He said the family does not believe the incident was isolated, and he called on DCPS to examine whether staff working with special-needs students are properly trained.

A DCPS spokesperson said the district prioritizes student safety and expects employees to meet strict conduct standards. The spokesperson confirmed Davis is no longer employed by DCPS but declined to comment on the pending litigation.

Nalle Elementary sits in Ward 7, one of two D.C. wards where the share of public school students receiving special education services is highest, between 19% and 21%, according to the D.C. Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education.

The lawsuit is pending. No court date has been announced.