Prosecutors have identified two teenagers as the primary suspects wanted for the killing of 22-year-old Billy Schmidt, who was gunned down during a robbery last month near his South Philadelphia home.
Warrants have been issued for Kaiseem Smith and Azzubair Outen-Fleming, both 16. The fugitives, who may be on the run, are expected to be charged with murder, robbery, conspiracy and other crimes, the District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
Outen-Fleming’s stepfather, 35-year-old Donte Abdulmalik, is in custody, accused of helping arrange transportation to get his family member out of the city, according to authorities.
Schmidt, a graduate of Roman Catholic High School who was studying journalism and media at Pennsylvania State University, died after he was shot in the chest at around 1:30 a.m. June 6 on the 1900 block of Durfor Street.
Investigators said surveillance footage shows Smith and Outen-Fleming driving around the neighborhood before parking in the area of 21st and Porter streets. They got out, walked toward Jackson Street, and spotted Schmidt standing at the corner of 20th and Durfor, according to law enforcement officials.
Security video appears to show Outen-Fleming snatching Schmidt’s phone before punching him and going through his pockets, prosecutors said. Detectives believe Schmidt followed the pair after the attack, eventually running after Smith, who allegedly pulled out a gun and fired the fatal shot.
District Attorney Larry Krasner said Outen-Fleming and Smith have been identified as the two males shown in a video released by the Philadelphia Police Department a few days after the homicide.
Krasner told reporters that Smith has ties to the state of Delaware and has been known to frequent the neighborhood around 17th and Wharton streets in Point Breeze; otherwise, he was tight-lipped about the teens’ possible whereabouts during a news briefing Wednesday afternoon.
“We do actually have some specific information about at least one possible location, but it would not be in the best interest of their apprehension for me to say that at this time,” Krasner added.
The U.S. Marshals Service has joined the search for Smith and Outen-Fleming and is offering a $5,000 reward for tips leading to the capture of either teen. Anyone with information is asked to call the PPD at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or USMS at 1-866-865-8477.
Abdulmalik has been charged with hindering apprehension, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence. He is being held without bail and was being sought at the time of his arrest for a violation of his probation. A defense attorney was not listed on court dockets Wednesday.
Court records indicate that Abdulmalik has pleaded guilty to carjacking and drug charges in multiple prior cases. He was sentenced to five years of probation in 2022.
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