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
Attorneys Argue Jacob Bard Actions in Deadly Kentucky State University Shooting Were Legally Justified
Attorneys representing Jacob Bard, the man accused in a deadly shooting at Kentucky State University, contend that his actions were legally justified and undertaken in defense of his family amid what they describe as a violent and uncontrolled situation on campus.
In a press release issued Monday afternoon, Bard’s legal team from the Indiana-based law firm Danks & Danks asserted that Bard “was completely justified under the law in his use of deadly force.”
Bard is accused of fatally shooting one Kentucky State University student and wounding another during an incident at a campus dormitory.
According to the attorneys’ statement, Bard traveled to Kentucky State University after his younger son reported being attacked on multiple occasions.
The release alleges that on Monday, December 8, a group of approximately 20 to 30 individuals gathered outside the son’s dormitory, some allegedly armed, and began beating on the door. Campus police were reportedly called to respond to the disturbance.
The following morning, Bard and his wife met with Kentucky State University police. While the attorneys stated that officers appeared sincere in their efforts, they claimed it was evident to the family that campus police were “ill-prepared to deal with the out-of-control and violent environment.”
The legal team further alleges that both the university and its police department failed to adequately address what they described as multiple armed and violent felonies against Bard’s sons, ages 18 and 19, as well as other students in the days preceding the shooting.
Those alleged incidents included burglaries and armed assaults.
Later that morning, the family attended a meeting at Young Hall with campus police and a university dean.
According to the release, the meeting left the family convinced that the university would not be able to maintain a safe environment, prompting them to begin removing the son’s belongings from the dormitory.
When the family returned to the residence hall, the attorneys claim that individuals previously involved in the alleged assaults were present, despite assurances they would not be allowed inside.
The statement further alleges that those individuals photographed the family and made verbal threats.
The attorneys contend that, even with two armed Kentucky State University police officers present, a group of 20 to 30 individuals gathered in the dormitory lobby and “violently and viciously attacked” Bard’s son and family members.
According to the release, Bard’s son was slammed into the concrete floor and beaten by multiple people, and the officer on scene allegedly lost control of the situation.
“In the chaos,” the attorneys wrote, Bard attempted to pull attackers off his son but was struck himself. Believing his son to be in imminent danger of death or serious physical injury, Bard then drew his firearm and shot two individuals whom the attorneys say were actively assaulting his son.
The legal team also stated that no charges have been filed against others allegedly involved in the confrontation and claimed the Bard family has continued to receive death threats.
The release further alleges that the mother of the deceased student has publicly called for retaliation against Bard’s son and sought assistance from criminal groups—claims that have not been independently verified by authorities.
The case against Bard was presented to a grand jury on December 16.
During a previous court hearing, a detective testified that at least one video reviewed by investigators did not show the shooting victims assaulting Bard’s son.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not issued a final determination regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting.