19-Year-Old Sought in Penn State Student’s Murder Now Person of Interest in Off-Duty Officer Shooting

Law enforcement agencies are actively searching for Khadfi Fleming, 19, who faces robbery charges stemming from the June death of Penn State student Billy Schmidt and is now a person of interest in a separate violent incident involving an off-duty police officer. The U.S. Marshals Service has announced a cash reward for information leading to Fleming’s arrest and released his name publicly this week following the Monday altercation with the officer.

The off-duty officer’s vehicle became the target of alleged car thieves early Monday morning, prompting the officer to pursue the suspects and confront them directly. An exchange of gunfire ensued between the officer and the suspected vehicle thieves, though no injuries were reported in the encounter, according to Fox 29 Philadelphia. The suspects fled the scene, leaving behind the officer’s Dodge Charger with a damaged steering column and multiple 9mm shell casings scattered inside.

Investigators recovered a second stolen vehicle, a Lexus, abandoned at another location connected to the incident. Fleming has not been formally charged in connection with Monday’s shooting, though authorities identified him as a person of interest in the aggravated assault on the officer.

Fleming’s involvement in the Schmidt case dates to June 6, when the 22-year-old Penn State student was fatally shot near his South Philadelphia home around 1:30 a.m. Schmidt had been walking home from an NBA Finals watch party when the incident occurred, with surveillance video capturing him requesting the return of his stolen phone moments before the shooting. The digital journalism and media major was weeks away from his December graduation when he was killed.

Two 16-year-old suspects, including Fleming’s younger brother Azzubair Outen-Fleming, were identified as murder suspects in Schmidt’s death. U.S. Marshals apprehended Azzubair Outen-Fleming in Colorado Springs approximately one month after the killing, discovering him at a relative’s residence while attempting to conceal his identity. The second juvenile suspect, Kaiseem Smith, subsequently surrendered to Philadelphia police.

Schmidt’s father, Bill Schmidt, expressed his grief over his son’s killing, telling ABC7 that his son “cared about everybody and never hurt or bothered a soul.” The public is encouraged to contact the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-866-865-TIPS (8477) with any information regarding Fleming’s location.