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A Maryland man shot by his wife over allegations that he had molested children who attend the day care she owns in Baltimore has been charged with sexual abuse, according to police.
James Weems Jr., a former police officer in Baltimore, has been charged with sex crimes related to the abuse of “at least three children” who attend Lil Kidz Kastle, according to an arrest warrant issued by the Baltimore County Police Department. Weems had worked at the day care facility when the abuses took place, police said.
WOMAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING HUSBAND IN DC HOTEL SAYS HE MOLESTED CHILDREN
Weems is currently hospitalized in Washington, D.C., with two gunshot wounds after being shot by his wife last week, although his injuries are not considered to be life-threatening, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. Officials say he is now considered a fugitive and is being watched under guard while he remains in the hospital.
His wife, Shanteari Weems, was arrested on Thursday after she shot her husband at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Washington over claims he molested some of the children who attend her day care, according to an arrest affidavit.
Shanteari Weems is still being held in Washington jail as of Tuesday and faces charges of assault with intent to kill, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm without a license, and possession of an unregistered firearm. She is expected to claim she acted in self-defense after an argument with her husband “turned violent” and he “started coming toward her,” her lawyers told the Washington Post.
Shanteari Weems has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to appear before the D.C. Superior Court on Friday.
Police responded to a shooting on the eighth floor of the Mandarin Oriental on Thursday around 7:40 p.m. after hotel staff reported the incident. A staff member was responding to a smoke detector that was going off in the room when he or she “observed blood on the wall,” according to an affidavit reviewed by the Washington Examiner.
Hotel guests and staff were evacuated from the building as officers attempted to enter the room to administer first aid, speaking with Shanteari Weems for about an hour before forcing their way in. Police in heavy tactical gear attempted to coax the woman out, but she threatened to shoot herself if they came inside, authorities said.
Officers forced their way into the room once they determined a victim had been shot. Upon entering, the victim was found with bullet wounds to his leg and his head.
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While Shanteari Weems was being detained, she made claims about her relationship with the victim, telling officers they had been married for five years and live together in Baltimore, according to authorities. She had traveled to Washington on Wednesday to meet her husband at the hotel and confronted him about the molestation allegations.
Weems told police she did not want to kill her husband and just wanted to hurt him, arguing that “she could have killed him while the police were trying to get into the room,” according to police.
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Tags: Police, Crime, Washington D.C., Maryland
Original Author: Cami Mondeaux
Original Location: Man shot by wife over allegations of child molestation charged with sex abuse