Sixth Cal U player charged in beating
A sixth California University of Pennsylvania football player was charged in the attack last week outside an off-campus restaurant that left a man hospitalized in critical condition with severe brain injuries.
Shelby Wilkerson, a freshman defensive back, turned himself into authorities Saturday morning after witnesses identified him as participating in the attack on Lewis Campbell III outside Spuds restaurant early Thursday, California police said.
Campbell was beaten shortly after 2 a.m. following an argument in the 200 block of Wood Street. Campbell, 30, of West Chester, was downgraded Saturday morning to critical condition while at Allegheny General Hospital’s trauma unit after being listed in fair condition Friday afternoon, hospital staff said.
Wilkerson, 20, of Harrisburg, was charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, harassment and criminal conspiracy, and arraigned Saturday afternoon by District Judge Jay Weller. He was taken to Washington County jail on $50,000 bond, which was significantly less than his five co-defendants received upon their arraignment early Thursday by District Judge Joshua Kanalis.
James Williamson, 20, of Parkville, Md.; Corey Ford, 22, of Harrisburg; Jonathan Barlow, 21, of Pittsburgh; Rodney Gillin, 20, of Reading; and D’Andre Dunkley, 19, of Philadelphia, face the same charges as Wilkerson, however, those five men remain jailed on $500,000 bond.
Dunkley’s attorney, David Shrager, called their bond “quite excessive” and said he plans to petition the court this week to have it reduced for his client.
“I do believe the bond was extremely high for the circumstances,” Shrager said. “It’s not supposed to punish someone for mere allegations.”
Shrager added Dunkley has never been in trouble with the law and was in good-standing with the Cal U. community. He denied Dunkley was involved in the attack.
“The charges are extremely serious and the allegations are upsetting, but the family would simply ask that the public not rush to judgment until all the facts are brought to bear,” Shrager said. “I’m still conducting my investigation, but from what I have observed so far regarding the statements of various witnesses, there is certainly a lot more to this story and my understanding is that my client never touched the victim in any way.”
But Campbell’s father, Lewis Campbell Jr., lashed out at all of the football players in an interview Friday night with WTAE-TV. He said his son, who moved to California recently to be with his girlfriend Syresse Asparagus, suffered serious brain injuries during the beating. California police previously said an argument between Asparagus and one of the football players prompted the fight in which Campbell was injured.
The beating prompted Cal U. to suspend the five football players and cancel Saturday’s game against Gannon. University officials confirmed Wilkerson was suspended indefinitely from both the team and school.
“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,” Cal U. interim President Geraldine Jones said of the subsequent arrest. “Everyone involved in this incident should be held accountable for their actions.”