Shanteari Weems — who now goes by Shanteari Young — is reentering normal life after serving time for a 2022 shooting that made national headlines.
The former Baltimore County daycare owner has been released after completing most of her four-year sentence connected to the incident, and she’s made it clear she’s focused on moving forward, not dwelling on the past.
Young, 53, recently had her ankle monitor taken off, officially closing the final chapter of her sentence. The moment overwhelmed her. “When I got in my car, I started crying,” she shared with the Baltimore Banner. “Because it was just like, ‘I’m finally done.’”
The story dates back to July 21, 2022, when Young traveled from Maryland to Washington, D.C., and confronted her then-husband, retired Baltimore Police officer James Weems Jr., at a hotel.
Per the Department of Justice, she accused him of sexually abusing children at her daycare, Lil Kidz Kastle, before shooting him in the neck and leg. He survived the attack. Authorities later found a gun in her purse along with a note outlining her intentions.
Young ultimately pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and carrying a pistol without a license. She was sentenced to 60 months, with all but 48 months suspended on the assault charge, followed by supervised probation after her release.
Meanwhile, the accusations that fueled the confrontation led to a separate case. According to CBS News, in 2024, Weems was convicted in Baltimore County on multiple charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor connected to the daycare. He was sentenced to life in prison, with the judge stating he used his law enforcement background to carry out the crimes.
Young took the stand during that trial, coming face-to-face with her ex-husband for the first time since the shooting. “It was a little surreal,” she said. “But I was so focused on doing what I was going to do.”
Even after serving time at a federal facility in Kentucky and later transitioning through a halfway house, Young has remained firm in her stance. She told reporters she has “no regrets.”
Now, she’s focused on rebuilding her life. She’s working at a residential recovery home and looking into ways to advocate for children who have survived abuse. “I want to show people that something catastrophic can happen to you, but you can rebuild and you can move on,” she explained.
She’s also pushing for legislative reform in Maryland, partnering with lawmakers on proposed measures that would require more specialized training for childcare providers to better identify and report abuse. While reporting abuse is mandatory, there’s currently no separate training focused solely on recognizing signs of sexual abuse.
Legal hurdles, however, are still in play. Young is named in several civil lawsuits connected to the daycare. Attorneys for the victims argue she bears responsibility for what occurred under her supervision, claims she denies, insisting she had no knowledge of her ex-husband’s actions.
Outside of court, she’s mapping out her future. Young has launched a nonprofit aimed at supporting survivors and is working on a book about her journey titled My Protector.
She’s also cautioning others against taking matters into their own hands. “My whole life changed in 72 hours,” she said, urging people not to seek personal justice, even in emotionally charged situations.
Still, on one point, she remains unwavering: she believes the truth came out in the end. “I’m definitely glad that the justice system saw what happened,” she said.
If you suspect child abuse or exploitation, report it immediately to local law enforcement or contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD. You can also submit a report to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at report.cybertip.org.
