- Billy Schmidt, a 22-year-old Penn State student, was fatally shot while chasing two suspects who stole his phone in Philadelphia.
- Azzubair Outen-Fleming was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Colorado after fleeing the scene of the murder.
- Kaiseem Smith, the second teen suspect believed to have fired the gun, remains at large with a $25,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
SOUTH PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA — Less than a week after investigators uncovered a disturbing cache of chemicals, weapons, and fake federal badges inside a crumbling Olney rowhouse connected to two missing Philadelphia women, Philadelphia is back in the national spotlight over another case that has gripped the city for weeks. One of two teens wanted in the killing of a Penn State student has been tracked across the country and arrested — while the other is still running.
A Night That Ended in Tragedy
Billy Schmidt, 22, was exactly the kind of person his family said never deserved this. An avid Philadelphia sports fan who lit up every room he walked into, he had spent the evening of June 5 at a neighborhood bar in South Philadelphia with friends, watching the NBA Finals. He was walking home afterward — just steps from his own front door on the 2300 block of South 20th Street — when two people approached him on the 1900 block of Durfor Street around 1:30 a.m.
One of them grabbed his phone and took off.
Schmidt chased after them. Surveillance footage from nearby cameras captured what happened next. You can hear Schmidt yelling "Give me my phone" as he runs. Then a gunshot. One of the suspects turned and fired, hitting Schmidt in the chest. He collapsed in the street. Paramedics took him to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 1:47 a.m.
His father, Bill Schmidt, found his son's phone under a parked car near the scene and turned it over to police. "He was a really good person who cared about everybody and never hurt or bothered a soul," he said. "I'm shocked when they stole his phone that he chased them."
Who Billy Was
Billy Schmidt was a senior at Penn State World Campus, the university's online campus, studying digital journalism and media. He was on track to graduate in December 2026. His sister, Anna, said he dreamed of working in sports broadcasting.
"He was one of the nicest, most genuine and honestly, goofiest, people there is," she told ABC News.
She remembered the time the two of them ran a 10K together in April. Billy's average pace was eight minutes a mile, but he slowed down the entire race just to stay by her side. "He was more concerned with just staying with me the whole time," she said.
A vigil held on June 11 stretched three blocks along 20th and Durfor Streets. Friends, neighbors, and family filled the sidewalks, singing, crying, and holding candles at a memorial of flowers and balloons. "Billy never let anyone down," one attendee said. "I never saw him walk into a room not smiling."
Penn State issued a statement saying the university was "heartbroken" and offered its deepest condolences to Schmidt's family.
Two Teens Named, One on the Run for Weeks
For nearly a month, both suspects remained unidentified publicly. Then on June 30, Philadelphia Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore announced that arrest warrants had been obtained for two 16-year-old boys: Azzubair Outen-Fleming and Kaiseem Smith. Both are wanted for murder, criminal conspiracy, robbery, and illegal possession of a firearm, among other charges. Because of the severity of the case, District Attorney Larry Krasner announced both teens would be charged and tried as adults.
Outen-Fleming, also known as Zubair, stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 145 pounds. He was last seen in the Germantown area of Philadelphia before vanishing. Smith — believed to be the one who fired the gun — is described as 4 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 110 pounds. He is from Wilmington, Delaware, but is known to frequent the 27th and Reed streets area of Philadelphia.
Smith remains at large.
A Stepfather Who Helped Him Run
Before Outen-Fleming was caught, investigators discovered someone had helped him disappear. His stepfather, Donte Abdulmalik, 35, was arrested and charged with hindering apprehension, obstruction of justice, and tampering with evidence. Prosecutors say Abdulmalik played an active role in getting the teen out of Philadelphia after the murder. He had no role in the killing itself, but his effort to shield Outen-Fleming from police resulted in his own arrest and criminal charges.
Caught Hiding in Colorado
Outen-Fleming fled Philadelphia around June 11 — five days after Schmidt was killed. Investigators with the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force got to work figuring out where he went. They determined Outen-Fleming had distant family members living in Colorado and began surveilling a home on the 4200 block of Loomis Avenue in Colorado Springs.
On July 1, at around 8:30 p.m., Marshals moved in and arrested Outen-Fleming inside the residence. He tried to conceal his identity when officers arrived, but agents identified him through what the Marshals Service described as "investigative means." He was transported to the Zebulon Pike Youth Services Center in Colorado Springs and is awaiting extradition back to Philadelphia.
"Crossing state lines did not prevent this arrest," said Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert Clark.
The Hunt for the Second Suspect
Kaiseem Smith is still missing. The U.S. Marshals and the Philadelphia Police Department are offering a combined reward of up to $25,000 — $5,000 from the Marshals and $20,000 from Philadelphia police — for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Marshals issued a direct warning to Smith: "Surrender now. If you choose to remain fugitives, the Marshals Service will relentlessly pursue every lead, every associate, and every tip until you are located and taken into custody."
Anyone with information on Smith's whereabouts is asked to call the Philadelphia Police Department tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477) or the U.S. Marshals tip line at 1-866-865-TIPS.
For the Schmidt family, none of this brings Billy back. He was weeks from finishing college. He was heading home from a bar after a night with his friends. He chased two people for his phone.
"I was shocked," his father said. "I ran into his room. I didn't believe it."
To view more cases of crimes and fugitive manhunts, check out our video here:
