The 19-year-old was wanted on charges tied to Billy Schmidt’s killing and was sought in a separate police officer vehicle-theft investigation.
PHILADELPHIA, PA — Kadafi Fleming, a 19-year-old sought in connection with the robbery that ended in the fatal shooting of Penn State student William “Billy” Schmidt, surrendered to Philadelphia police Tuesday evening after authorities also identified him as a person of interest in the theft of an off-duty officer’s car.
Fleming surrendered around 6 p.m. Tuesday at Philadelphia Police Department headquarters on North Broad Street, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. His surrender ended a manhunt that had drawn new attention after investigators said he was connected to two major Philadelphia cases: the June killing of Schmidt in South Philadelphia and a vehicle theft early Monday that led to an exchange of gunfire involving an off-duty police officer.
Fleming faces robbery, conspiracy, theft and obstruction of justice charges stemming from the investigation into Schmidt’s death, authorities said. Schmidt, 22, was killed June 6 on the 1900 block of Durfor Street after his cellphone was stolen. Authorities have charged two 16-year-olds, Azzubair Outen-Fleming and Kaiseem Smith, with murder, robbery and related offenses in Schmidt’s death. Fleming is Azzubair Outen-Fleming’s older brother.
Investigators have alleged that Kadafi Fleming stole a vehicle used before Schmidt was killed and disposed of it afterward. Authorities have not accused Fleming of firing the fatal shot. Smith has been accused by investigators of being the gunman, while Outen-Fleming also faces murder charges. Both teenagers are in custody. The charges against the defendants remain allegations unless proven in court.
The search for Fleming intensified after a separate incident Monday morning in Philadelphia’s Eastwick section. Authorities said thieves took a green Dodge Charger belonging to an off-duty Philadelphia police officer shortly after 3 a.m. The officer later located the vehicle and the people suspected of taking it near South 70th Street, where gunfire was exchanged, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
The suspects fled in a red Lexus that had been reported stolen, investigators said. That vehicle was later recovered. Authorities also investigated reports that the suspects then left in a blue Lexus that had also been reported stolen. Fleming was named a person of interest in the officer’s vehicle theft and the confrontation that followed. Authorities had not announced charges against him in that incident as of Tuesday night.
Before Fleming surrendered, Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert Clark described the search as a priority because shots had been exchanged with an off-duty officer. Clark had urged Fleming to surrender and said federal marshals expected to find him if he did not turn himself in. The Marshals Service had offered a reward for information leading to his arrest.
The case followed a wider search for suspects in Schmidt’s killing. Azzubair Outen-Fleming was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Colorado Springs, Colorado, after investigators tracked him more than 1,700 miles from Philadelphia. Smith later surrendered to authorities. Outen-Fleming’s stepfather also has been arrested and accused of helping the teenager evade authorities.
Schmidt was a Penn State student studying digital journalism and media communications. His death prompted a homicide investigation that relied in part on surveillance evidence as detectives worked to identify the people involved in the robbery and shooting. Authorities have continued to separate the alleged roles of each suspect as the criminal cases move through the court system.
Fleming remained in police custody Tuesday night following his surrender. His existing charges are tied to the Schmidt investigation, while authorities continued investigating his possible role in the off-duty officer’s stolen-car case. No additional charges in that incident had been announced by late Tuesday.
Author note: Last updated August 11, 2026.