Star Football Player’s Death Goes To Grand Jury

Mississippi High School Football A George County grand jury has begun hearing testimony in the shooting death of a high school football star. Police claim Billey Joe Johnson shot himself after being stopped for running a red light.

by The Associated Press

Published: Mon, February 09, 2009 - 4:46 pm CST Last Updated: Mon, February 09, 2009 - 4:49 pm CST

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A George County grand jury has begun
hearing testimony in the Dec. 8 shooting death of a high school
football star.
Authorities have said 17-year-old Billey Joe Johnson died after
being stopped by a deputy for running a red light in Lucedale. Law
enforcement records have shown that Johnson had been identified as
a suspect in an attempted break-in moments before the traffic stop.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has gathered evidence in
the probe.
Johnson's mother, Annette, and Curley Clark, president of a Gulf
Coast chapter of the NAACP, were among those subpoenaed to testify
on Monday.
Johnson was a junior running back at George County High was
considered a top potential college football recruit.
Johnson's family and the NAACP are conducting independent
investigations of his death.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

WKRG.com » News Stream » Sideline

Photo

WKRG.com Related

News –› Mississippi

News –› Lucedale

Discuss this in the forum

Email to a Friend

Printer Friendly

BamaBob Says:

Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 1:53 pm

Would love to see and hear the reaction of family and friends.

BamaBob Says:

Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 1:46 pm

Grand Jury: No evidence of a crime in Johnson case
LUCEDALE — A 20-member George County grand jury has determined that no criminal wrongdoing occurred the morning of Dec. 8, when George County High School football star Billey Joe Johnson Jr. died of a shotgun wound after a sheriff’s deputy pulled him over.

BamaBob Says:

Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 1:40 pm

I checked WLOX and nothing yet. WDAM’s website is down for some reason. Not sure what other TV stations would have people in the court room.

Last report from the Sun Herald was that family were making their way into the court room a few minutes ago.

mustuknow Says:

Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 1:37 pm

Geez Bama Bob I am chomping at the bit to hear what the Grand Jury had to say. Do you any of the media that is there where maybe we could find out what the Grand Jury says before 5 o’clock???

BamaBob Says:

Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 1:13 pm

“Judge allows media into grand jury review of Johnson case”

LUCDALE—Circuit Court Judge Robert Krebs is allowing reporters and photographers to bring their laptops into the courtroom today to get up-to-the-minute coverage of a grand jury ruling regarding the shooting death of George County Football standout Billey Joe Johnson Jr.

http://tinyurl.com/blaths

BamaBob Says:

Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 1:03 pm

“Friends, family start to gather in Lucedale for grand jury report on Billey Joe Johnson case”

Jamie Burch Says:

Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 12:12 pm

BamaBob,

We have a crew in Pascagoula to get a copy of the grand jury report. We’ll have a live report on News 5 at 5:00

BamaBob Says:

Thu, Feb 12, 2009 at 11:17 am

Is WKRG following this story? There is supposed to be word from the Grand Jury today at 1:30. It would be interesting to see the reaction from the people in Lucedale, after their findings are made public.