In December of last year, I reported on the case of Billey Joe Johnson, a gifted George County High School running back, who was shot to death following a traffic violation. At that time, the reported evidence was pointing to an "apparent suicide". Now we learn that earlier this month, the Grand Jury ruled Billey's death an accident. In addition, the Grand Jury ruled out any potential for a violent death and found that Sheriff Garry Welford was in no way responsible for Billey's death.
According to, Will Brinson, the Grand Jury ruling does three things:
AAPP provides the timeline of event - according to police - leading up to the "accident".First, it confirms the NAACP's conclusion that suicide was not the cause of Johnson's death (how the NAACP intended that ruling to be taken by the general public may be up for debate).
Secondly, it rules out any potential for a violent death. This was an unspoken issue, but considering the natural racial overtones that surround the incident's circumstances, well, it was there. The police department, with this ruling, appears to be off the hook.
And finally, it would appear that Johnson's family has little reason to ever consider filing a lawsuit in this matter, barring some defective issue with the shotgun. And that's not to say this is the last we'll hear about Johnson's family or the late high-school superstar; there's a chance, given the extremely mysterious nature of his death, that more evidence surfaces.
So, let me get this right. It wasn't a suicide, because the Grand Jury determined that Billey had too much to live for. So what that means is that Billey accidentally pick up a shot gun and accidentally put it to his head and accidentally pulled the trigger. Right? As Michael Corleone said to his brother-in-law before he had him whacked "Don't tell me your innocent. It insults my intelligence".
Obliged to you for hearing me,
and now old SjP ain't got nothin' more to say...
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