An Illinois man was taken into custody after allegedly planning to kidnap a child from a Fort Lauderdale school.
Devontay Shields, 35, of Danville, Illinois, faces federal charges of attempted kidnapping. According to authorities, he was apprehended on Saturday at Chicago’s Union Station while trying to board a train headed to Miami, Florida. Shields remains in custody, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for November 25, 2024.
Federal investigators allege Shields intended to abduct a young boy from a Fort Lauderdale school and demand a $100,000 ransom. The case unfolded when Shields unknowingly disclosed his plans to individuals secretly working with law enforcement.
Recorded conversations reportedly revealed Shields stating he planned to “get me a little boy” from the Florida school. Before his trip, Shields allegedly purchased zip ties and children’s toys, items found in his possession at the time of his arrest.
The charges were announced by the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Morris Pasqual, and Sean Fitzgerald, Special Agent-in-Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago. Several agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations Fort Lauderdale, Amtrak Police, and local departments in Illinois, assisted in the investigation.