Crime
Shavon Williams, Mother of 7-Year-Old Jamal White Jr., Arrested Days After His Abduction and Recovery
A Milwaukee man accused of participating in the abduction of a 7-year-old boy—an incident that triggered a statewide Amber Alert—is now challenging the evidence against him.
Corey Williams, identified by prosecutors as one of three individuals involved in the July 11 kidnapping of young Jamal Williams, appeared in Milwaukee County Court on Friday for his initial hearing.
During the proceedings, Williams denied some of the allegations and at times engaged directly with the court commissioner over statements attributed to him.
According to the criminal complaint and related search warrant affidavits, the kidnapping stemmed from a failed robbery attempt.
Prosecutors allege that Corey Williams and two accomplices had planned to rob someone they believed to be a local drug dealer—Shavon Williams, the boy’s mother.
When she was not home, the suspects allegedly redirected their plan to the father’s residence, located near North 61st and West Hustis streets.
Surveillance video shows a white Jeep Renegade pulling into a driveway at that location.
One individual is seen chasing the child’s father into the home, while another suspect follows Jamal up the driveway, forcibly grabbing him and placing him into the vehicle. Prosecutors say Corey Williams was the driver.
During Friday’s hearing, Court Commissioner Barry Phillips addressed Williams directly about his role in the abduction.
“As the driver, you could have easily said, ‘Don’t take the kid. Don’t bring that kid in this car.’ You didn’t do that,” Phillips said.
Court documents further reveal that the suspects took Jamal to Williams’ home near North 39th and West Lloyd streets.
While there, the child reportedly watched cartoons and played with Legos.
Investigators also traced more than 40 phone calls from the kidnappers to the boy’s mother, demanding $100,000 in cash and jewelry in exchange for the child’s safe return.
“How do we know all of that? Because the defendant himself told us,” said Assistant District Attorney Ryan Johnson, referring to Williams’ own statements to police.
Williams appeared visibly frustrated during parts of the hearing, shaking his head and disputing key portions of the prosecution’s narrative.
One moment of contention came when Commissioner Phillips referenced a disturbing admission allegedly made by Williams during police questioning:
“What you also said to the police is that when the mother did not meet you to pay the ransom, for a little while, you thought about hurting that kid,” Phillips said.
“That’s a lie,” Williams replied.
“OK, well, it’s on tape, and we’ll find out if it’s a lie or not,” Phillips responded.
“Clearly, you all didn’t watch it, then,” Williams said.
Bail for Corey Williams was set at $100,000. He currently faces charges of kidnapping and taking a hostage.
In a related development, investigators say the boy’s mother, Shavon Williams, was uncooperative during the investigation and hindered law enforcement’s efforts to locate her son.
She is currently being held on a probation violation, though no charges have been filed against her in connection with the abduction at this time.
Police have also taken two other individuals into custody in connection with the case: a 38-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy.
Their names have not yet been publicly released. The investigation remains ongoing.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple University’s Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
“The loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.”
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victim’s last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individual’s involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.