NAACP Rules Out Suicide in Billey Joe Johnson's Tragic and Mysterious Death

Billey Joe Johnson, a sought-after high school football recruit from the state of Mississippi, died tragically at a police stop a week ago Monday, the result of a shotgun wound to the head. At the time, the police were unsure whether Johnson's death was a suicide or an accidental shooting, presuming that he was pulling the gun out for some reason other than to kill himself.

Sports Deaths in 2008

Billey Joe Johnson, Dec. 8: The High school football star from Missippi died at a police stop.

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Chris Richardson, Dec. 11: The Harlem Globetrotter, and former standout at UNLV, dies in his sleep. It is believed he died of natural causes.

D. Clarke Evans, NBAE / Getty Images

Ted Rogers, Dec. 2: Rogers, the founder of Canada's largest cable company and the owner of the Toronto Blue Jays since 2000, dies in his home at the age of 75.

Adrian Wyld, The Canadian Press / AP

Pit Martin, Dec. 2: The 64-year-old four-time NHL All-Star dies after his snowmobile plunges into an icy lake near his home in Quebec.

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Armand Guidolin, Nov. 24: He was the youngest player to ever play in the NHL and went on to coach Boston and Colorado.

Will Barrow, Nov. 22: The rising lacrosse star was only 22 years old. A cause of death has yet to be released.

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Bob Jeter, Nov. 20: The NFL cornerback, seen here late in his career with the Bears, started in Super Bowls I and II for the Packers.

NFL

Pete Newell, Nov. 17: The Hall of Fame basketball coach led California to a national championship in 1959 and the United States to Olympic gold in 1960.

Dino Vournas, AP

Herb Score, Nov. 11: The Indians pitcher was named AL Rookie of the Year in 1955 and found a second career on the team's radio broadcast team from 1968 to 1997.

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Preacher Roe, Nov. 9: The pitcher went 127-84 in a 12-year career with Brooklyn, Pittsburgh and St. Louis, but it was with the Dodgers that he enjoyed his greatest success and acclaim.

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Well, the NAACP has stepped in and, through the course of an independent investigation, decided that Johnson's death was not suicide (via Drudge).

"The NAACP, along with the family, have determined that Billey Joe Johnson did not commit suicide," Clark said.

The NAACP's conclusion does not rule out the possibility that Johnson accidentally shot himself, Clark said.

"At this point, nothing is concrete until the results of the autopsies have been made known," Clark said.

The organization based its findings on interviews with people who knew Johnson and on physical evidence, Clark said, although Clark declined to detail the physical evidence, citing legal concerns. Clark said nothing supports the notion that the junior running back was in the state of mind to kill himself.

Obviously there are a lot of bizarre circumstances involved here, the most bizarre of which is clearly the reason for Johnson's death. Johnson, by all accounts, had everything going for him and was heading to college soon. The only feasible explanation for him panicking at being stopped by the police would involve him being involved in some other pseudo-criminal-related activity (or even simply possession of a gun), yet the police have made absolutely no mention of the possibility that he was violating a law.

Of course, the NAACP appears to be playing a bit of a political game as well; it states that the death wasn't suicide, but then mention that an accidental shooting "has not yet been ruled out," although it still could be following an autopsy. And, unfortunately, when a gun is involved, there are three options for cause of death. Once "suicide" and "accident" are gone, "murder" is the only option remaining, and considering that we're talking about a young, talented African-American in Mississippi, well, let's just say that this probably won't be the last you hear of this story.