In a deeply unsettling incident that has shocked many, a Texas man was caught on camera inflicting a brutal assault on a three-year-old boy, whose cries of distress echoed in the footage. The violent episode unfolded at The Legend Apartments complex in Waco last Friday evening.

Paul Thames, aged 29, was captured on a Ring doorbell camera delivering multiple punches to the child’s torso with a closed fist. The footage, timestamped around 5:30 p.m., shows Thames hitting the boy at least five times before hoisting him up with one arm. In a chilling exchange, Thames is heard admonishing the terrified child, telling him, “Stop playing with me!”

The video further reveals Thames placing his hand over the boy’s face, demanding again, “You gonna stop playing with me?” The child’s desperate cries continued as Thames carried him out of the camera’s view.

The alarming footage quickly spread across social media platforms, sparking widespread outrage and prompting the Waco Police Department to launch an investigation into the assault allegations.

In the aftermath of the incident, the young boy was promptly taken to a hospital for medical evaluation. After being assessed by healthcare professionals, he was released later that day, authorities reported.

The boy was taken to the hospital and evaluated by medical staff before being released later that day, authorities said. 

Thames was arrested on Friday after turning himself in, the agency said. The relationship between him and the boy is unclear, but police said they ‘know each other.’ 

He’s been charged with injury to a child and booked into McLennan County Jail on a $200,000 bond, KWTX reported. 

Doorbell footage captured the moment Paul Thames repeatedly hit a three-year-old boy at an apartment complex in Waco, Texas, on Friday evening

At one point, Thames was seen picking the boy up with one arm before placing his hand over his face

The Daily Mail contacted the Waco Police Department for comment. 

Thames’ arrest comes just months after an Alabama teacher was seen whipping her own child more than 20 times with a belt. 

Nicole Staples, 44, was arrested in November and charged with willful child abuse of a child under the age of 18 after footage resurfaced online of her abusing her 12-year-old son. 

Staples, a once-celebrated educator at Cottage Hill Christian Academy, was allegedly seen violently beating her younger son over unfinished chores after her eldest son shared the clip online.

‘I didn’t feel like, you know, she should be working at the school or even doing that to my little brothers,’ her son Jackson Staples previously told Fox 10 News.

‘You know, she done it to me my whole life, so I’m 24,’ he added.

In the video, which appears to have been filmed inside the family home, a woman believed to be Staples was seen aggressively screaming profanities at the distraught child, who leans over the arm of the couch in tears.

Moments later, the woman raised a folded belt and repeatedly hit the boy on the rear, leaving him clinging to the couch and crying from the blows.

Thames was arrested on Friday after turning himself in. The relationship between him and the boy is unclear, but police said they ‘know each other’

She then manhandled him by his hair, slamming him to the floor before hoisting him up again and shoving him against the wall, all while continuing to yell at him.

After posting a $7,500 bond, Staples was released from jail and seen quickly bolting away in a gold cart, according to the outlet.

According to court documents obtained by WKRG News, Staples pleaded not guilty and requested a preliminary hearing in Mobile County District Court.

While the alleged incident took place off campus, the school where Staples worked swiftly responded, announcing in a statement that she had been fired from her teaching position, where she was previously crowned Teacher of the Year.

‘Cottage Hill Christian Academy prioritizes the well-being of children above all else,’ Head of School Chris Brazell told WKRG.

‘We will always act promptly, transparently and responsibly when matters arise that may impact the safety or integrity of our school community,’ he added.