MILWAUKEE, WI – A Milwaukee teenager now faces adult charges after authorities allege he orchestrated the kidnapping of a young boy and sought a six-figure ransom from the boy’s mother, according to court records.

Barry Alan Coleman, 14, is accused of planning and carrying out the abduction of 7-year-old Jamal White in connection with what investigators believe was a failed robbery plot that escalated into a full-scale hostage situation. Coleman was formally charged last week with forcible kidnapping, taking hostages as a party to a crime, illegal possession of a firearm, and possession of a weapon as a minor.

Court documents reveal that the incident began on July 11, when Milwaukee police responded to reports of a child being abducted at gunpoint outside a residence along the 6200 block of West Hustis Street. According to police, White’s father told officers that his son was taken just as they returned home from the park. The family’s car had pulled into the driveway when a white Jeep Renegade blocked them in, and an armed, masked man in black clothing approached.

Security footage obtained by investigators allegedly shows Fabian Johnson, 38, exiting the Jeep with a firearm, while Coleman—dressed in gray—can be seen chasing after and grabbing the 7-year-old before carrying him back to the getaway vehicle. Corey Williams, 25, is accused of driving the Jeep away from the scene.

Detectives quickly tracked the Jeep to its registered owner, who informed police that her boyfriend, Williams, was using her car the night of the abduction. Officers went to a residence on North 39th Street, where Williams was arrested, and White was safely recovered.

In a subsequent interview, Williams reportedly admitted to police his involvement in the abduction plot. He told investigators that Coleman contacted him two weeks prior, seeking help to rob White’s mother, who, according to Williams, was believed to keep large amounts of cash and narcotics. When their initial plan to target the boy’s mother failed, the group shifted their focus to his father.

On the night of the abduction, Williams, Johnson, and Coleman waited for the father and son to return from an outing, according to the criminal complaint. When the father fled into the house, Coleman allegedly seized the opportunity to kidnap White instead.

Inside the car, tensions reportedly rose as Williams objected to the change in plan, but Coleman insisted they now needed to demand ransom from the child’s mother. Johnson is accused of contacting her later that evening with demands for $100,000 in cash and jewelry to secure her son’s release.

The boy was held overnight as negotiations unfolded, and an Amber Alert was issued. Williams told investigators that he discouraged his co-conspirators from harming the boy, and ultimately, they did not physically injure him. Authorities report that the child was fed, played with toys, and watched cartoons during his ordeal.

Detectives later discovered that Williams made more than 40 calls to the boy’s mother, often using caller ID-blocking technology. During the investigation, a 9 mm handgun was recovered at Coleman’s residence, even though he is legally barred from possessing firearms due to a prior drug conviction.

Coleman was originally charged in juvenile court, but a judge approved a motion from prosecutors to have him tried as an adult—in accordance with Wisconsin laws that allow such waivers for serious crimes committed by youths 14 and older, including kidnapping and hostage-taking.

Coleman remains in custody on a $100,000 cash bond. A preliminary hearing in the case is set for December 8. Williams and Johnson are also facing related charges as the investigation continues.