Penn State Student Murder
Two 16-year-old boys charged with murder in shooting death of Penn State student.
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Two 16-year-old boys have been charged with murder in the robbery and shooting death of William "Billy" Schmidt, a 22-year-old Penn State senior, in Philadelphia. Arrest warrants were issued June 30 for Kaiseem Smith and Azzubair Outen-Fleming, according to Philadelphia Inquirer. As of July 1, both suspects remain at large.
The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the suspects' arrests, CBS News Philadelphia reported. The killing happened in the early hours of June 6 on Durfor Street in South Philadelphia — less than a block from Schmidt's home — when he was shot once in the chest during a phone robbery.
A Single Shot Over a Stolen Phone
Schmidt had been watching an NBA Finals game with friends at a South Philadelphia bar. Around 1:30 AM, he was walking home when two suspects approached him, according to 6abc Action News. Surveillance footage shows one suspect snatching Schmidt's phone. Schmidt chased them. As they turned the corner at 20th and Durfor Streets, one suspect turned and fired a single shot into his chest.
Schmidt was pronounced dead at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center at 1:47 AM, 6abc Action News reported. His father, Bill Schmidt, later found his son's phone under a parked car near the scene and handed it over to police. The father described his son as his "best friend" and a "really good kid."
Surveillance Footage and a Distinctive Gray Hoodie
Philadelphia Police released surveillance footage on June 11, five days after the killing. One suspect was wearing a gray "KONFUSED" brand hoodie with skulls and a black mask, according to FOX 29 Philadelphia. Police describe one suspect as 5'8" with braids. The other — believed to be the shooter — is between 5'3" and 5'5".
Investigators also looked into a possible link between the murder and a separate armed robbery near Broad Street and Snyder Avenue involving teenagers, CBS News Philadelphia reported. Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore announced the arrest warrants on June 30, nearly four weeks after the shooting.
Juvenile Murder Charges Spark Legal and Political Debate
Under Pennsylvania law, 16-year-olds charged with murder are typically excluded from juvenile court. They must petition to move their cases back to the juvenile system — a process called "decertification." Smith and Outen-Fleming face murder and related charges as adults, according to Philadelphia Inquirer.
District Attorney Larry Krasner drew sharp criticism for his response. The Washington Examiner called his comments "philosophical" and "pathetic," noting he said, "Crime is going to continue in human existence... The real question is, how do you manage it?" Critics argue his office's diversion-focused policies have weakened accountability for armed juveniles.
Community Grief and a $53,000 Fundraiser
Schmidt was a senior at Penn State World Campus studying digital journalism and media — just months from graduation. Penn State officials issued a statement of "heartbreak" and offered support to the family through Student Affairs, according to CBS News Philadelphia. A GoFundMe set up by his family raised over $53,000 within days, toward a $70,000 goal.
Neighbors said the killing shattered their sense of safety. "It happened over a phone," resident Jasmine Alleger told Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia recorded 83 homicides through June 30, 2026 — a 28% drop from 116 at the same point in 2025, according to Philadelphia Police data. But for Schmidt's South Philly neighbors, the numbers offered little comfort.
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