Teen arrested in Penn State student’s murder, second suspect wanted
The U.S. Marshals have announced the capture of a 16-year-old in Colorado tied to the tragic shooting of Penn State student Billy Schmidt. Philadelphia authorities confirm plans to prosecute both him and his accomplice in the June 6 incident, which involved robbery and murder, as adults. Meanwhile, Kaiseem Smith, another suspect, is still at large, prompting authorities to release a wanted notice.
Amidst these developments, a 19-year-old linked to the same robbery that led to the student’s death is now under suspicion in another violent encounter in Philadelphia. This time, an off-duty police officer faced gunfire with a group that allegedly tried to steal a car.
The U.S. Marshals Service has named Khadfi Fleming as a person of interest in the confrontation with the off-duty officer, emphasizing their pursuit by offering a reward for information about his whereabouts.
The incident began in the early hours of Monday when assailants attempted to swipe the officer’s Dodge Charger, according to Fox 29 Philadelphia. Details of this brazen encounter have raised public concern and highlighted ongoing crime issues in the area.
The search for Khadfi Fleming, who is wanted for robbery and implicated in the August 10 altercation with the officer, intensifies as the U.S. Marshals Service offers a monetary incentive for any leads that could facilitate his capture.
The off-duty officer followed the suspects and confronted them, leading to an exchange of gunfire, according to the outlet. No one is believed to have been struck.
The suspects escaped, and investigators later recovered the officer’s Charger with a broken window and damage to its steering column, along with numerous 9mm shell casings, Fox 29 reported.
Authorities say the suspects moved to another stolen car – a Lexus that was later found abandoned.
The U.S. Marshals Service has since publicly identified Fleming as a person of interest in the aggravated assault.
“USMS Philly is offering an immediate cash reward for Khadfi Fleming, 19, wanted for robbery,” the agency wrote on X, adding that Fleming is also a “person of interest” in the Monday attack on the off-duty officer.
Fleming has not been charged in connection with the Monday incident.
But authorities were already looking for the 19-year-old before the latest violence.
Fleming is wanted on a robbery charge connected to the June killing of Billy Schmidt, a 22-year-old Penn State student who was shot while walking home from an NBA Finals watch party.
Billy Schmidt was shot and killed in Philadelphia while walking home from an NBA Finals watch party on June 6. (Philadelphia Police Department)
Schmidt was just blocks from his South Philadelphia home when he was fatally shot around 1:30 a.m. on June 6.
Surveillance video captured the final moments before the shooting, with Schmidt heard asking for his stolen phone back before a gunshot rang out.
His father, Bill Schmidt, previously described his son as someone who “cared about everybody and never hurt or bothered a soul.”
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Azzubair Outen-Fleming, 16, was arrested in Colorado a month after authorities said he and another teenager, killed Penn State student Billy Schmidt during an armed robbery as he was walking home from an NBA Finals watch party. (U.S. Marshals Service)
“For him to get shot like that is a travesty,” he told ABC7.
The killing sparked a search for two 16-year-old murder suspects, including Fleming’s younger brother.
U.S. Marshals captured Azzubair Outen-Fleming in Colorado Springs, Colorado, about a month after Schmidt’s death. Authorities said the teenager was found at a distant relative’s home and initially tried to conceal his identity.
Philadelphia Police Department Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore said Outen-Fleming would face a murder charge, Fox 29 reported.
The second teen, Kaiseem Smith, surrendered to Philadelphia police.
Schmidt was studying digital journalism and media at Penn State and was expected to graduate in December.
Now, two months after his killing, authorities are seeking the elder Fleming as they investigate whether he was involved in the latest violent encounter.
Anyone with information about Fleming’s whereabouts is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-866-865-TIPS (8477).
News Media has reached out to the Philadelphia Police Department and U.S. Marshals Service for additional information and comment.