The father of a Penn State student who was shot and killed in South Philadelphia in June faced the parents of one of the murder suspects accused of helping the teen escape.
“Everything is moving forward right now,” an emotional William Schmidt said as he left the courtroom on Thursday, Sept. 17. “It’s just the first start though.”
On June 6 around 1:30 a.m., Schmidt’s son, 22-year-old William “Billy” Schmidt, was steps from his front door near 20th and Durfor streets in South Philadelphia when two teenagers confronted him and stole his cellphone, according to investigators.
Video from a neighbor’s porch camera shows the teens – later identified as 16-year-old Azzubair Outen-Fleming and 16-year-old Kaiseem Smith – speaking with Schmidt, who is off camera, police said. Seconds later, Schmidt appears to follow them into the street.
The video captures Schmidt saying, “Give me back my phone,” before a gunshot is heard moments later.
Schmidt was rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
Family PhotoFamily Photo
A photo of 22-year-old William “Billy” Schmidt
A few days later on June 10, Philadelphia police released surveillance video of the shooting, prompting Outen-Fleming’s mother, 45-year-old Milika Abdulmalik, and his stepfather, 35-year-old Donte Abdulmalik, to make escape plans for the teen, according to prosecutors.
Milika Abdulmalik allegedly made two phone calls and sent a text to a number in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Within the next two hours, the mother, stepfather, and teen drove to family members in Colorado Springs, according to investigators.
Milika and Donte Abdulmalik were later arrested in Philadelphia on June 30 while Outen-Fleming was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Colorado a day later on July 1, investigators said.
Kaiseem Smith then surrendered to Philadelphia police on July 2, according to officials.
Outen-Fleming’s 19-year-old brother was also arrested and charged with dropping the teens off in a stolen car prior to the deadly shooting.
On Sept. 17, Outen-Fleming, his brother and Smith all waived their right to preliminary hearings. Malika and Donte Abdulmalik appeared in court however and heard the evidence against them.
“They can’t put him in the car,” Donte Abdulmalik’s defense attorney said. “They don’t know who the car is registered to.”
Milika Abdulmalik’s attorney made a similar statement.
“What we have is two phones went to Colorado and came back,” the attorney said. “People travel with other people’s phones.”
William Schmidt, meanwhile, said it was tough to see Malika and Donte Abdulmalik in the courtroom, but he still felt good that his own family was there to support him.
All five suspects are due back in court on Oct. 8, 2026. Smith and Outen-Fleming are both charged with murder, robbery and other related offenses while Milika and Donte Abdulmalik are charged with hindering apprehension, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence.