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Sixth Cal. U. football player charged with alleged assault

3 min read

A sixth California University of Pennsylvania football team player has been arrested for an alleged assault that left a man hospitalized in intensive care with a severe brain injury.

California police arrested Shelby D. Wilkerson, 20, of Harrisburg on Saturday.

According to court documents, Wilkerson was charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, conspiracy to commit reckless endangerment and harassment.

Wilkerson was arraigned Saturday by Washington County Magisterial District Judge Jay Weller, who set bond at $50,000 according to court documents. Wilkerson remains in Washington County Prison.

The alleged incident took place Thursday outside of Spuds Eatery on Wood Street where, according to witnesses, one of the men arrested, Corey L. Ford, and Shyreese Asparagus (no age or address available) got into an argument, police said.

Lewis Campbell, 30, no address available, who was Asparagus’ boyfriend, intervened to stop the argument, but the suspects allegedly “punched, pushed, kicked and stomped” him until he was unconscious and in need of medical assistance, police said in an affidavit of probable cause.

Police allege that as the suspects were leaving the scene, they chanted “Football Strong.”

Campbell was taken to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh and was in the intensive care unit with a severe brain injury, police said.

James Williamson, 20, of Parkville, Md., Jonathan Barlow, 21, of Pittsburgh, Rodney D. Gillin, 20, of Reading, D’Andre Jamal Dunkley, 19, of Philadelphia and Ford, 22, of Harrisburg, were arrested on warrants during practice at Adamson Stadium on Friday were committed to the Washington County Prison, police said.

They were charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and harassment. They were arraigned and committed to the prison in lieu of $500,000 bail, police said.

Cal. U spokeswoman Christine Kindl said Friday that Williamson, Ford, Barlow, Gillin and Dunkley were suspended from the university and the team.

Kindl said Sunday that Wilkerson too had been suspended from the university and the team.

Cal U forfeited Saturday’s home game against Gannon University, said Cal U spokeswoman Christine Kindl.

Interim University President Geraldine Jones issued a statement on Saturday regarding the incident.

“While this is certainly disheartening news, it speaks to the diligence of our California Borough and California University police, who are working together to conduct a thorough investigation. Everyone involved in this incident should be held accountable for their actions,” she said. “California University is committed to the safety of our campus community — our hard-working, law-abiding students, employees and community neighbors deserve nothing less.”

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