NAACP Investigating Football Player's Death

The civil rights organization says George County HS football star Billey Joe Johnson did not commit suicide.

By: Jamie Burch | WKRG-TV
Published: December 16, 2008

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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - The NAACP is conducting an independent
investigation into the shooting death of a George County High
School football star.
Gulf Coast NAACP President Curley Clark says the civil rights
organization has ruled out suicide as the cause of death for Billey
Joe Johnson. The 17-year-old died December 8 after his vehicle was
stopped by a sheriff's deputy.
The NAACP is conducting interviews, and has scheduled an
independent pathologist to conduct an autopsy.
Sheriff Garry Welford had said it appeared the gunshot was
self-inflicted, but he asked District Attorney Tony Lawrence and
the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to review the incident.
Lawrence met Monday with Johnson's family. He did not
immediately return a call to The Associated Press seeking comment.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)