SMITHFIELD – A Harnett County teenager was arrested today (Tuesday) for first-degree murder stemming from the shooting death of a 60 year-old Smithfield man.
Around 5:15am June 19, 2021, Frank Blackshell was inside a home at the corner of Harris and Collier Streets when he was struck by shots fired into the dwelling. Blackshell was critically injured and rushed to the hospital. He died upon arrival at Wake Med in Raleigh.
Around 11:00am today, Smithfield Police, with the assistance from the NC SBI and Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, arrested 19 year-old Sincere McLean of Fuquay Varina at a residence in Harnett County. McLean was charged with first-degree murder, 15 counts of firing into an occupied dwelling, and two counts of firing into an occupied vehicle.
Police Chief Keith Powell said additional charges are pending in the murder investigation.
McLean was confined in the Johnston County Jail on a $1.7 million bond. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance Wednesday.
A motive for the homicide has not been released.
