Second man faces charges in shooting at playground

NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City police say a second man was involved in the shooting at the Bolinger Playground.
Francis L. Owens, 19, of Sankey Street faces charges of aggravated assault, criminal contempt to commit aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and carrying a firearm without a license in the shooting of Addaryl Akins.
Akins was playing basketball at the playground on West North Street with three other men at 4:30 p.m. last Thursday when he was shot in the leg. Witnesses told police several shots were fired from a nearby wooded area.
Owens and the other man charged in the shooting, Jermaine Wilson, 19, of Beach Street, face an additional three counts each of recklessly endangering another person for the three men who were with Akins when he was shot.
The other three shot at, Christopher Smith, 27, of Crandall Avenue, Youngstown; Justin Walker, 21, of Glenn Avenue; and Desmond Damon Whetzel, 21, of West Washington Street, both of New Castle, were not hurt by the gunfire, police said.
Wilson, who was arrested June 1, faces charges of aggravated assault, carrying a firearm without a license and recklessly endangering another person in the Akins shooting.
His preliminary hearing is set for 2:30 p.m. Friday before District Justice Melissa Amodie. No date has been set for Owens' preliminary hearing.