Shanteari Young, previously known as Shanteari Weems, made national headlines in 2022 when she shot her ex-husband, James Weems Jr., after discovering that he sexually abused children at her Baltimore daycare. Four years later, Young insisted she has “no regrets” about the incident.
On July 21, 2022, Young, 53, traveled from Maryland to Washington, D.C., to confront her then-husband about the allegations at a hotel. After she accused him of sexually abusing children at her daycare, she shot him in the neck and leg, according to the Department of Justice.
Weems – who is a retired Baltimore police officer – survived the shooting and police recovered a firearm from Young’s purse, as well as a note explaining her reasoning behind the incident.
Young pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and carrying a pistol without a license in November 2022, and she was sentenced to serve 60 months in prison with all but 48 months suspended on the assault charge. Additionally, she was ordered to supervised probation following her release.
After Young confronted Weems about the allegations, he was convicted in Baltimore County in 2024 on multiple charges tied to the sexual abuse of a minor connected to the daycare, Lil Kidz Kastle Daycare Center. He was ultimately sentenced to life in prison.
Young was released from prison in June 2025, and recently opened up to the Baltimore Banner about ending her prison sentence. “When I got in my car, I started crying,” she said. “Because it was just like, ‘I’m finally done.’”
She also reflected on testifying during Weems’ trial, which marked the first time the exes saw each other since the shooting. “It was a little surreal,” she said of the moment. “But I was so focused on doing what I was going to do.”
While Young had to serve time at a federal facility in Kentucky and spent time at a halfway house, she insisted she has “no regrets” about the shooting.
However, she did urge others to not follow in her footsteps of trying to take justice into your own hands. “My whole life changed in 72 hours,” she said.
Young also said that she feels that the legal system ultimately exposed the truth regarding Weems’ crimes. “I’m definitely glad that the justice system saw what happened,” she said.
Additionally, she said that she’s looking forward to rebuilding her life. Young is currently working at a residential recovery home and exploring ways to help children who have experienced abuse.
She has also registered a nonprofit initiative to support survivors and is working on her debut book about her experience, which is titled My Protector.
“I want to show people that something catastrophic can happen to you, but you can rebuild and you can move on,” she said. “I’m trying to change this into a positive situation and help people.”
Despite being released from prison, Young is still facing legal challenges based on her ex-husband’s abuse. She has been named in several civil lawsuits tied to the daycare, with attorneys representing victims arguing that she is responsible for Weems’ actions that took place under her watch. Young has since denied the claims and insisted that she was unaware of her ex-husband’s actions.
If you suspect child abuse, please call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit ChildHelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential, and the hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
