Surveillance footage of a young Black boy being kidnapped in broad daylight in Milwaukee had the Black internet prayerful, especially since his father was seen fleeing into a house instead of saving his son. Now, the dad is speaking out about why he didn’t come to his 7-year-old son’s rescue and folks are, in a word, speechless.

Jamal White was taken at gunpoint Friday (July 11) by a masked man, according to police, in the 6200 block of West Hustis Street on the city’s northwest side while he was riding his bike. He was forcibly placed into a white Jeep Renegade while screaming for his father.

After a nationwide Amber Alert was issued, Jamal was found safe nearly 24 hours later seven miles away from where he was kidnapped. But not because his father’s heroic efforts.

Jamal’s father, Jamal White Sr., was seen driving a sedan alongside his son. Instead of helping, White Sr. fled into a house and locked the door behind him. Folks online gave him an earful about why he sought safety while his own kin was being abducted in front of his eyes. But White doubled-down on his actions.

On Tuesday (July 15), White Sr. took to Facebook, where he insisted that his son was safe the entire time in a screenshot captured by Complex. He went on to accuse social media of “painting them crazy a*s narratives” and said cops are treating him like the “bad guy.”

“As long as my baby straight all that ever mattered I still ain’t seen my baby face to face the police locked me all day Saturday questioning me even when intold them everything i knew,” his Facebook status reportedly read. To add insult to injury, he boldly defended his actions, writing, “Hell yeah I ran.”

White added the reason why he ran: “I ran im thinking they tryna rob me not take my damn baby yalll slow we both alive n my baby tried to get away like I taught em god had us the whole time obviously I did right my baby safe !”

Folks online were not feeling his logic and called him out for what they deemed his lack of protection of his son, who was released to Child Protective Services, according to police.

😭😭😭 Jamal White dad ran in the house, locked the door & stayed inside while his son screamed for him and he didn’t come out until the person who took him was gone. Smfh that poor baby! pic.twitter.com/nrBIgTPwYr

— My moms missed abortion appointment (@JourneyskyyDean) July 15, 2025

Jamal White’s pos father defending himself saving himself instead of his child. Defending hiding in his home while his 7yo child screamed for him to help.
absolute trash human. pic.twitter.com/EKHP2oNdEu

— Susanna🐊 (@FloBornGal) July 16, 2025

But wait… there’s more.

The boy’s uncle was arrested for firing a handgun during search, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Jamel K. White was charged with two felonies of first-degree recklessly endangering safety with a dangerous weapon. The 27-year-old, per authorities, fired a gun toward a man and his son who were searching for his nephew, hitting an unoccupied home and tree on July 12. His charges are unrelated to his nephew’s abduction.

Milwaukee police also arrested a man at a home connected to Jamal’s kidnapping. A 25-year-old suspect was taken into custody at the residence where Jamal was found. The suspect’s name was not released to the public, but Milwaukee police said charges will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.

Straight From

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