Shanteari Weems murdered her husband. The husband of Weems, a former Baltimore City police officer, has been accused of sexually abusing children at the daycare center. The shooting is thought to have been the result of a fight between the couple.
The Beginning
Weems drove to the Mandarin Hotel to confront her husband after learning of a second allegation of abuse against him. This incident occurred just weeks after Child Protective Services closed their Maryland daycare center due to the first allegation.
According to reports, Shanteari Weems traveled to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, D.C. on July 21, 2022, with the intention of meeting her husband, James Weems Jr. The meeting, however, was not a romantic one, as Weems allegedly brought two firearms to the hotel. It’s believed she intended to shoot her husband, who was accused of molesting several children at her Maryland daycare center, leading to its closure.
According to The Baltimore Sun, at around 7:30 p.m., a fire alarm prompted hotel staff to investigate a hotel room on the eighth floor. They immediately called the police after noticing blood splattered across the wall.
Officers arrived to find the hotel room door barricaded and Shanteari Weems screaming from inside that she had shot a “child molester.” She then threatened to harm herself if the cops came in.
Following an hour-long standoff, police forcibly entered the room when James Weems Jr. began screaming that he had been shot in the leg and head. He was taken to the hospital right away with serious injuries.
Shanteari Weems was arrested and charged with murder and assault with a dangerous weapon following the incident. She, on the other hand, denied having any plans to murder her husband.
During a search of her belongings, the police discovered Weems’ notebook. According to 7News, Weems wrote in her notebook that she intended to shoot but not kill James Weems Jr. She expressed her desire for him to face the consequences of his actions and be regarded as a disgraceful individual by society.
Weems also expressed her desire for justice for the children who had been harmed by the alleged abuse, writing, “You gonna pay.”
According to Shanteari Weems, the argument with her husband became heated, prompting her to shoot him in self-defense when he moved towards her. Her accusations of her husband’s alleged actions, however, do not appear to have come out of nowhere.
According to Shanteari Weems, the argument with her husband became heated, prompting her to shoot him in self-defense when he moved towards her. Her accusations of her husband’s alleged actions, however, do not appear to have come out of nowhere.
James Weems Jr., according to a Baltimore County Police representative, is facing criminal charges for allegedly sexually abusing at least three children while working at a daycare center.
Weems Jr. was charged with three counts of sexual abuse involving a minor, three counts of third-degree sexual offense, two counts of second-degree assault, and one count of fourth-degree sexual offense. He was also charged with displaying sexually explicit material to a minor.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Weems Jr. served in the United States Marine Corps as an infantryman from 1983 to 1987 and as a police officer with the Baltimore Police Department from 1996 to 2005. He retired from the police force due to medical reasons, but remained a contractor with the department until 2008. He had worked in private security in recent years.
Development After the Shooting
Many people praised Shanteari Weems as a hero, and a GoFundMe campaign titled “Support For Shanteari Weems” raised over $3,000 before being taken down.
On social media platforms such as Twitter and TikTok, supporters used the hashtag #FreeShanteariWeems to express their solidarity, with some looking for ways to donate to Weems’ legal expenses and others demanding her release from prison.
“I was supposed to protect those children,” Shaneari Weems said in court, sobbing. “My husband was supposed to assist me in protecting those children. I’m filled with remorse because the person I chose to love and trust turned out to be the one the kids needed to be protected from.”
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Michael O’Keefe emphasized the gravity of Shanteari Weems’ actions and the importance of punishment. Judge O’Keefe ultimately sentenced Weems to 48 months in prison for aggravated assault and 20 months in prison for the gun charge. Weems will serve a total of 48 months in prison because the sentences will run concurrently. She will be placed on supervised probation for 24 months after her release.