Washington Woman Shoots Husband After He Was Accused of Molesting Children From Her Own Daycare
A 50-year-old Washington woman was arrested for shooting her husband, who is a retired Baltimore police officer, according to authorities.
People reported that the suspect, Shanteari Weems, shot her husband, James Weems, Jr, inside their room at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel after he was accused of molesting three children who had attended her own daycare.
James was rushed to the hospital and continues to receive treatment. However, authorities have not detailed James' condition.
Shanteari and James were in their room when she confronted the retired police officer about the sexual abuse allegations, which were made against him by the parents of the three children.
The daycare that Shanteari owned was known as Lil Kidz Kastle Daycare Center in Owings Mills.
The D.C. Metropolitan Police noted that the shooting happened shortly before 8 p.m.
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Washington Woman Shot Husband
Shanteari said in an interview with D.C. detectives that she wanted to hurt her husband, not kill him.
She already reported the allegations against James to Baltimore County Police before questioning him about it, according to a WMAR News report.
A warrant was issued for James in Maryland on July 26, which was related to the child sexual assault accusations.
Shanteari noted that she decided to have a talk about the accusations against her husband in their room at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
She said she received several text messages from parents and teachers about the accusations.
Metropolitan Police said that Shanteari grabbed a gun from her purse and shot her husband.
Police recovered two guns from the hotel room, including a notebook that seemed to show Shanteari's plans to shoot the retired police officer.
Washington Woman and Allegations Against Husband
Police reported that the victim was shot at least once, with the shooter shortly barricading herself inside the hotel, as reported by Newsweek.
Court documents stated that police claim officers approached the area where the gunfire was heard, asking if anyone had been shot.
Shanteari reportedly responded by saying "f*** him, he's a child molester."
Baltimore County Police Spokeswoman Joy Lepola-Stewart said James will face several charges in relation to the reported child sex abuse.
Kathy Scherr, who works nearby the daycare, noted that the situation is "horrible." However, she expressed sympathy for Shanteari.
Scherr said that no one should have taken the law into their own hands. However, she also said that Shanteari's whole business is gone, including her reputation and marriage.
The daycare worker added that the Washington woman cared about the children.
Alaska News Source noted that some have also joined the side of Shanteari, with some supporters using the hashtag #freeshanteari.
Supporters have also attended Shanteari's initial hearing, which was postponed. She is now due in court on Friday.
Activist Qiana Johnson claimed that the Washington woman is not to blame, noting that Shanteari has made the complaints to proper authorities before and her reportings went unanswered.
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Written by: Mary Webber
WATCH: Woman claims to have shot husband because he was molesting children at her daycare | FOX 5 DC -from FOX 5 Washington D.C.