Shanteari Weems—now going by Shanteari Young—is stepping back into everyday life after serving time for a 2022 shooting that drew national attention.
The former Baltimore County daycare owner was released after completing the bulk of a four-year sentence tied to the incident, and she’s made it clear she’s not looking backward.
Young, 53, recently had her ankle monitor removed, marking the final stage of her sentence. The moment hit immediately. “When I got in my car, I started crying,” she said in an interview with the Baltimore Banner. “Because it was just like, ‘I’m finally done.’”
The case traces 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.
According to 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. Police later recovered a firearm from her purse and a note indicating her intent.
Young pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and carrying a pistol without a license. A judge sentenced her to 60 months, with all but 48 months suspended on the assault charge, plus supervised probation following her release.
At the same time, the allegations that sparked the confrontation led to a separate prosecution. According to CBS News, in 2024, Weems was convicted in Baltimore County of multiple charges tied to the sexual abuse of a minor connected to the daycare. A judge sentenced him to life in prison, stating he used his background in law enforcement to commit the crimes.
Young testified during that trial, facing her ex-husband in court for the first time since the shooting. “It was a little surreal,” she said, describing the moment. “But I was so focused on doing what I was going to do.”
Despite everything that followed—including incarceration at a federal facility in Kentucky and time in a halfway house—Young has been consistent about how she views her actions. She told reporters she has “no regrets.”
Her focus now is on rebuilding. She’s working at a residential recovery home and exploring ways to support children who have experienced abuse. “I want to show people that something catastrophic can happen to you, but you can rebuild and you can move on,” she said.
Young is also pushing for policy change. She’s been working alongside Maryland lawmakers on proposed legislation that would require more targeted training for childcare providers to identify and report abuse. Current requirements mandate reporting, but there is no standalone training dedicated specifically to recognizing signs of sexual abuse.
At the same time, legal challenges remain. Young has been named in multiple civil lawsuits tied to the daycare. Attorneys representing victims argue that she is responsible for what happened under her watch. She has denied those claims, maintaining she was unaware of her ex-husband’s actions.
Beyond the courtroom, she’s planning her next steps. Young has registered a nonprofit initiative to support survivors and is working on a book about her experience titled My Protector.
She’s also urging others not to follow the same path she did. “My whole life changed in 72 hours,” she said, warning against taking justice into one’s own hands—even in moments of overwhelming emotion.
But she hasn’t wavered on one point: she believes the system ultimately exposed the truth. “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 file a report with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at report.cybertip.org.