Joshua Threatt, 36, went viral after he filmed himself escorting a 6-year-old girl nearly 10 blocks to Thirkell Elementary School in freezing Michigan weather. Threatt chose to walk with the child rather than put her in his truck, later returning with a hat and gloves. The video spread rapidly online and prompted police to contact the family; authorities say this was not the first time the child had been found alone. Threatt says he recorded the encounter to protect himself, not for attention.
Good Samaritan Goes Viral After Escorting 6-Year-Old Through Michigan Snow; Police Investigate
GettyStock image of a little girl walking in the snow
Detroit resident Joshua Threatt, 36, drew national attention after he recorded himself walking a 6-year-old girl nearly 10 blocks to Thirkell Elementary School in freezing weather. He first shared the encounter on Facebook Live and later posted the footage to TikTok, where it was widely shared.
Threatt said he noticed the child walking alone without a hat or gloves and appeared shaken by the cold. Concerned for her safety, he chose to walk with her to school rather than place her in his vehicle to avoid any possible misunderstandings.
“I found this little girl walking by herself,” Threatt says in the video, adding, “I didn’t want to put her in my truck, so I got out and walked with her.”
As they made their way to school, Threatt grew visibly emotional, repeatedly saying he feared what might have happened if no one intervened. On arrival, he reported the situation to school staff and later returned with a hat and gloves for the child.
GettyStock image of a man and a little girl walking in the snow
According to ABC affiliate 7 News Detroit and local reporting, the clip was shared tens of thousands of times within a day and sparked an outpouring of praise in the comments. Threatt told FOX 2 he posted the footage "to cover myself," not for attention, and later spoke with the girl's father in what he described as a respectful, "man-to-man" conversation.
The Detroit Police Department confirmed it contacted the child's family and said this was not the first time the girl had been found walking alone. Authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances. PEOPLE has reached out to Threatt for comment.
Why the Story Resonated
The video highlighted concerns about child safety in extreme weather, the difficult choices good Samaritans face when helping minors, and the role of social media in rapidly amplifying local incidents. Threatt's decision to walk with the child rather than put her in his truck reflects widespread public anxiety about how to help vulnerable people while avoiding misunderstandings.
What authorities say: Police are investigating and have been in touch with the family. Community members have called for increased attention to child welfare and neighborhood safety around school routes.
