Jamillah Roberts and Rasheedah Paige survived a 1995 family tragedy. Now they’re raising awareness and their voices.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two Charlotte sisters are speaking out publicly after their father, who shot them and killed their younger sister nearly 30 years ago, was released from prison.
Jamillah Roberts and Rasheedah Paige say May 23, 2025, the day of their father’s release reopens painful wounds from a night in 1995 that forever changed their lives.
“It was a total nightmare that we weren’t able to prepare for,” Jamillah said.
In 1995, their home turned into a crime scene when their father, Willie James Roberts, flew into a rage and shot all three of his daughters. Their younger sister was killed. Jamillah, who was 18 at the time, was shot in the spine as she tried to escape, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down.
“He came in with the gun pointed… with a devilish smirk on his face. I said please don’t do this,” Jamillah recalled. “I have so much paralysis from the waist down and I can’t do anything without the help of somebody.”
Rasheedah, then just 16, was also shot. She says a bullet was lodge in the hand she used to cover her face as her father aimed for her head. The scars for her run deep.
“Severe depression, I’ve had anxiety, panic attacks… you name it,” she said.
Their father, Willie Roberts, served about a 30-year prison sentence including time in a mental health institution but was released Friday. The sisters say he has never shown remorse.
“Angry, sadden by the situation because he is a menace to society,” Jamillah said.
“I do want to face him and ask him the question why,” Rasheedah added.
The trauma, they say, goes beyond that one night.
“He would abuse our biological mother Sheila in the worst way… he would stomp her in the head,” Jamillah said.
“All of our siblings… we all have our problems with depression, panic attacks, anxiety,” she continued. “It affects the children, it doesn’t matter what age eventually it will hit you.”
Now, the sisters are taking their survival and using it to inspire others. They are working on a manuscript that details their story and aims to raise awareness around domestic violence especially the often-hidden trauma experienced by children.
“They don’t have a voice, especially the children,” Rasheedah said. “So we want to bring awareness.”
“These are the signs of what domestic violence can lead to… and if the women are not going to protect themselves then they at least need to get out of the situation to protect their children,” Jamillah said.
The sisters say their mission is to speak up for those still living in fear and to help others recognize the warning signs before it’s too late.
“Me being alive… God wants me to put the message out there to let people know to see the signs and warning,” Jamillah said.
As they move forward, the sisters say their story is still being written one page at a time. They’ve launched a fundraiser to cover editing, publishing, and advocacy efforts tied to the manuscript.
