Police charge man with player’s death

Police in Jackson, Tenn., have made an arrest in a Wednesday night shooting that resulted in the death of Arkansas State football player Markel Owens and his stepfather.

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Derrick Wade, 22, of Jackson, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of Owens and Johnny Shivers. He also faces charges of aggravated robbery of Shivers and attempted first-degree murder of Chermaine Owens, Markel Owens’ mother, aggravated assault of a 16-yearold boy and tampering with evidence, police said.

Wade is being held at Madison (Tenn.) County jail after being found at about6:30 p.m. Thursday at a relative’s house in Memphis, police said. Wade was returned to Jackson and later arrested, police said.

Police said they have a “person of interest” who they believe could be the second gunman involved in the shootings at the home of Markel Owens’ mother and that the investigation is ongoing.

Owens, 21, was at his mother’s duplex Wednesday night in Jackson when police said two masked men rushed Shivers as he and his 16-yearold son were arriving home. The men forced Shivers into the duplex, where a fight broke out. Owens became involved in the fight, and he and Shivers were both shot.

Shivers was dead when police arrived at the home, and Owens died later at Jackson-Madison County Memorial Hospital.

Chermaine Owens was treated at the hospital for a gunshot wound and released.

Police said they believe Shivers was specifically targeted because they discovered a “large amount” of marijuana inside the home. The men also made off with a large amount of cash, police said.

Police said Wade was shot in the thigh during the robbery and went to Regional Medical Center in Memphis, where he was treated and released.

Wade’s arraignment is scheduled for 8 a.m. Tuesday.

Owens, a defensive lineman, made four tackles in 11 games for ASU last season and was scheduled to start classes Tuesday. Steve Hoofkin, who coached Owens at Liberty Tech High School in Jackson, said Thursday that Owens was on schedule to graduate this spring and that he was planning to attend graduate school next fall while playing his senior season for the Red Wolves.

Sports, Pages 25 on 01/18/2014

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