2 teenagers charged in Homewood shooting
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Two teenagers have been charged in a shooting that took place on Monday in Pittsburgh's Homewood neighborhood.
Around 3 p.m. on Monday, a teenage girl was taken to the hospital in critical condition after she was shot in the stomach in the parking lot of Franktown Laundromat on Franktown Avenue.
According to court paperwork, the shooting occurred in connection with a fight that had taken place earlier in the day between two females.
James Acklin and Raymur Sicklesmith, both 16 years old, are both facing attempted homicide, conspiracy, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment charges.
Pittsburgh police say that Acklin and Sicklesmith went to Frankstown Avenue because they knew the person who fought with their sister was there.
One witness told police that they heard Acklin tell Sicklesmith to "shoot them when I tell you" and then heard four to five gunshots. Other witnesses identified Sicklesmith as the person who was doing the shooting.
Both individuals were detained at the scene and were taken in for questioning. Police say that the clothes both Sicklesmith and Acklin were wearing matched descriptions provided by witnesses at the scene.
Sicklesmith and Acklin are awaiting arraignment and it's unclear when a preliminary hearing will be scheduled for.
On Tuesday, the owner of the laundromat told KDKA-TV's Shelley Bortz that Monday's shooting was the last straw for him. Gerrold Wilbourn said it's not worth risking his safety for what little money he makes there.
"I'm a retired Air Force veteran, and I've put 21 years in the Air Force. In so many words, I haven't seen anything like this," Wilborn said. "I've been through Vietnam, bullets being fired over my head. No, I don't need this."