High School Star Dies During Traffic Stop

XAU · 12-09-2008, 06:19 AM

This is really weird, sounds suspicious!

JACKSON, Miss. (Dec. 8) - A George County High School football star died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound early Monday after being pulled over by a sheriff's deputy, authorities said.

It's not clear why 17-year-old Billey Joe Johnson was stopped in Lucedale, but authorities say the junior tailback shot himself with a shotgun after the deputy walked back to the patrol car to run a license check.
"The deputy was sitting in his patrol vehicle ... when he heard a gunshot and saw the victim laying on the ground by the driver's side door of the vehicle that Johnson was driving. A shotgun was lying on the victim," according to a statement from the George County Sheriff's Department.

Authorities would not immediately say whether they believed the shooting was a suicide or an accident.

Sheriff Garry Weford asked the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to look into the death, said state Department of Public Safety spokesman Charlie Cook.
School officials said they were stunned by the news. Assistant coach Darwin Nelson, who went to the scene to help identify the body, told The Associated Press that Johnson was one of the most promising athletes he's seen on the football field.

"We're just in shock," Nelson said. "To say that he had a world of potential would be one of the biggest understatements of the century. I just can't explain this."

Nelson said counselors were brought in Monday to talk to students.
"Us coaches need some counseling, too, I guess," he said.
Johnson rushed for more than 4,000 yards in his high school career. He had scholarship offers from universities including Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State and Oregon, according to Scout, a national recruiting service.

Johnson said in August that he hoped to rush for 1,500 yards this season. He finished the year with 1,559 yards, picking up an average of 7.2 yards per carry. He led the team with 24 touchdowns.
"I feel real comfortable with my role on the team. I just have to come out and do the best I can every Friday night. I'm going to give it all I've got," Johnson said in an August interview with the Sun Herald newspaper.
The Mississippi Department of Education and neighboring school districts have offered to help counsel students, said Barbara Massey, George County's superintendent.

"What a joy it was to watch him play football," she said. "Our sympathies go out to the family of this talented, talented young man."
Johnson helped George County to an appearance in the 5A state championships last year, where the team lost to South Panola High School, which until recently had the longest winning streak in the country with 89 straight wins.

George County had a record of 6-6 this season and was put out of the playoffs in the first round by Meridian High School, which went on to win the 5A championships by beating South Panola.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-12-08 18:56:52

N01SYtZ · 12-09-2008, 06:20 AM

Probably thought he was getting pulled over for something else he had done?
Stupid guy.

Gator1010 · 12-09-2008, 06:22 AM

wow that's horrible.... gotta be more to the story that ppl are missing thouhg

TanTORNADO · 12-09-2008, 06:23 AM

(no plaxico)?

SkeetSkeet · 12-09-2008, 06:23 AM

...do cops carry shotguns generally (serious). I thought they only brought them if needed ever. Just sayin if it was shady, would the cop have used a shotgun or a service revolver?

XAU · 12-09-2008, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N01SYtZ

Probably thought he was getting pulled over for something else he had done?
Stupid guy.

and that's why he shot himself?!! ok!

PRANING · 12-09-2008, 06:26 AM

wow that sucks...

de_barathrum · 12-09-2008, 06:26 AM

lol at speculation

N01SYtZ · 12-09-2008, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XAU

and that's why he shot himself?!! ok!

Well, he sure did shoot himself... and if his life is so damn great i dont know why he would shoot himself.

ItalianStllion · 12-09-2008, 06:28 AM

hmmmm......this just doesnt sound right. sounds like the cop mybe is covering up something?

lilmanthatcould · 12-09-2008, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SkeetSkeet

...do cops carry shotguns generally (serious). I thought they only brought them if needed ever. Just sayin if it was shady, would the cop have used a shotgun or a service revolver?

They normally carry shotguns in the cars from what I have heard

The fact that this happened in Mississippi fuels the suspicion even more

either that or the dude was tryin to kill the police officer and blasted himself instead

Glowstix · 12-09-2008, 06:37 AM

in before "its because cops intimidate black people"

pepto · 12-09-2008, 06:39 AM

cop killed him

if there is any doubt there is no doubt

AboveAverage · 12-09-2008, 06:39 AM

in before "he looks like CJ"

ProWrestleFan · 12-09-2008, 06:40 AM

That sucks... I wonder what kind of "demonds" he had.

XAU · 12-09-2008, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glowstix

in before "its because cops intimidate black people"

Not looking to blame but not enough information provided yet to know how this happened

ProWrestleFan · 12-09-2008, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XAU

Not looking to blame but not enough information provided yet to know how this happened

Yeah, I would like to say I don't think the cop had anything to do with it.

Errorist · 12-09-2008, 06:45 AM

Foul play imo. What angle did the blast go into the kid.

jason_bh · 12-09-2008, 06:46 AM

The kid was probably trying to hide the shotgun he was carrying in the car from the cop when he went back to his patrol car. In the process he accidentally shot himself.

My theory anyways.

aaronjbc123 · 12-09-2008, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason_bh

The kid was probably trying to hide the shotgun he was carrying in the car from the cop when he went back to his patrol car. In the process he accidentally shot himself.

My theory anyways.

I think this is probably the case

Glowstix · 12-09-2008, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason_bh

The kid was probably trying to hide the shotgun he was carrying in the car from the cop when he went back to his patrol car. In the process he accidentally shot himself.

My theory anyways.

ding ding! winnar

Aces_Inc · 12-09-2008, 06:50 AM

Poor guy, I don't now if it's legal to carry Guns over there but it sounds like he might have tried to hide the gun an it went off

Edit : jason_bh said pretty much the the same thing 1st

southernstunna1 · 12-09-2008, 06:53 AM

haha are you people serious? I go to school at Ole Miss (about 2.5 hours north of Jackson) and I realize the South is somewhat backwards (but in a good way) but we ARE not going arounda and shooting blacks for no reason.

The kid probably had drugs in his car and was going to get his scholarships revoked and made a stupid decision to end his life. End of story.

Maestro · 12-09-2008, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glowstix

in before "its because cops intimidate black people"

hey, you said it.

JRRBadBoy4Life · 12-09-2008, 06:57 AM

A 17 year old kid shouldn't have a shotgun in his car unless he's going hunting.

GM54 · 12-09-2008, 06:58 AM

dont cops have camera's on their dashboard they activate when they pull people over?

Fred87nc · 12-09-2008, 06:59 AM

In before Conspiracy and curb stomp

titsMcGee · 12-09-2008, 07:03 AM

sounds dodgy as ****. A highschooler with a promising football career ahead of him with college scholarships gets pulled over for a routine stop ...... cop hops in car to check license ..... kid thinks "oh i have a unpaid parking ticket i better shoot myself with this here shotgun"

i reckon the cop shot him. Shouldn't there be a camera fitted to the dash?

XAU · 12-09-2008, 07:05 AM

unless you are ready to fire, a safety button should've prevented an accidental shot.

southernstunna1 · 12-09-2008, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by titsMcGee

sounds dodgy as ****. A highschooler with a promising football career ahead of him with college scholarships gets pulled over for a routine stop ...... cop hops in car to check license ..... kid thinks "oh i have a unpaid parking ticket i better shoot myself with this here shotgun"

i reckon the cop shot him. Shouldn't there be a camera fitted to the dash?

Are you serious? This kid lives in a TERRIBLE part of the city of Jackson and there's an extremely good chance that he had drugs in the car.

Kids make stupid and rash decisions and this was probably one of them considering he would probably lose his scholarships had he been caught with drugs.