Xuming Li, a 36-year-old PhD chemistry student from the University of Southern Florida, was apprehended for allegedly injecting opioids into his neighbor’s home.

This disturbing incident left the community in shock and raised serious questions about the safety of residential areas.

Li, originally from China, was arrested by Tampa Police on June 27 at 9.30pm.

The charges against him are severe, including possession of a controlled substance, aggravated stalking, burglary, and three counts of battery dispersed chemical agent against the members of the household.

An officer who responded to the scene also suffered skin irritation due to exposure to the substance, leading to an additional charge against Li.

The victim, Umar Abdullah, moved into the Palm Springs Boulevard building with his pregnant wife in June 2022.

They were warmly welcomed by other residents, but soon began receiving complaints from Li, their downstairs neighbor. Li claimed that noise from Abdullah’s apartment was causing him sleep disturbances.

Over time, Abdullah, his wife, and their baby daughter began experiencing health issues such as dizziness, shortness of breath, eye and skin irritation, and vomiting. These symptoms persisted for over a month, causing distress and concern for the family.

Despite numerous attempts to identify the source of their illness, including inspections of their air conditioning system, water heater, and even a visit from the fire department, the cause remained elusive.

Abdullah’s breakthrough came when he noticed an obnoxious smell emanating from a small crack in his doorway. Suspecting foul play, he installed a hidden camera in a potted plant outside his door.

The footage revealed Li crouching down and appearing to inject a clear substance beneath their door. This horrifying discovery led Abdullah to immediately evacuate his family and contact the police.

A subsequent hazmat investigation revealed that the substance was a ‘liquid chemical agent’ containing methadone and hydrocodone – opioid pain medications.

Inhaling high levels of these narcotics can lead to severe health issues, including shallow breathing, a weakened pulse, difficulty walking, disorientation, slurred speech, and nausea.

Li, who described himself as ‘an innovative and goal-driven chemist’ on his LinkedIn profile, is now facing a lawsuit from Abdullah for domestic violence and from the condo association for breach of contract.

He was released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court next on December 5.