Shanteari Young is officially free. The Black daycare owner who was thrown in prison after shooting her then-husband when she discovered he was sexually abusing the children, has been released early from a four-year prison sentence. Needless to say, social media has been singing her praise — and then some.
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From suggesting that the Baltimore County daycare owner’s situation is worthy of a GoFundMe to others flat-out urging Young be given a badge of honor, it’s clear fans on social media are rallying behind her with fierce support. Some suggested that even one day behind bars was far too much time, while others argued that she’s a “hero” and should have never gone to jail at all.
“She should've never been there in the first place. She got justice for those babies,” one fan wrote on instagram. “Baltimore here…she needs a pardon and her life back!! Our county has it backwards!!” a second suggested. “She’s a hero! To go to jail behind someone else’s kids is everything,” a third added. “Please don’t arrest people that save our kids! They deserve medals not punishment,” a fourth urged.
In addition to applauding Young, many opened up a deeper conversation surrounding the integrity of the justice system, and how the system often fails survivors who actually fight back.
“Crazy how she had to do time but we got known documented child molesters walking the streets,” one fan argued. “She prob served more time for shooting him then he would have got it convicted,” a second quipped. “Free her cuz she took care of business cuz she knew the law wouldn't," a third commented.
Arrested in July 2022, Young served the majority of her four-year sentence before being released and transferred to a halfway house in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday (July 1). The Lil Kidz Kastle daycare owner is reportedly set to remain in home confinement until completing her sentence in December, and says she’s now focused on rebuilding her life in Maryland.
“One of the things I really want to say is I thank everybody for the support that they have given me,” Young told WJZ. “It has really helped me get through my prison sentence, and I’m just really thankful for that. I’m glad to be out and at the halfway house, and I’m just looking forward to rebuilding and giving back to the community like I was before.”
She continued with a pointed message to listeners: "The one thing I think that we need to know is that sexual abuse is not OK with children," Young said. "A lot of times in the past, it has been covered up, and it's good that it's getting some type of notoriety to it so that we can stop it."
Meanwhile, Young's ex-husband — former police officer James Weems Jr. — was sentenced to life in prison in November 2024 after being convicted of rape, sexual abuse of a minor, and showing obscene matter to a minor, per WBAL-TV.
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