The curious case of Thomas Johnson, the former five-star recruit and budding Texas A&M star who disappeared during his freshman season and never returned to football, took a bizarre and tragic twist on Monday.
Dallas Police say Johnson chose a victim at random on the White Rock Creek Trail, hacking a jogger to death with a "large-edged weapon." One witness says that weapon was a machete, and Johnson delivered "six or seven blows," to the jogger. The victim wasn't carrying identification; police haven't released his name as of Tuesday morning but said Monday he was white and in the age range of 25 and 35.
"It appears Mr. Johnson picked this victim at random. Absolutely random,” Deputy Chief Rob Sherwin said. “He just attacked him. … It’s just very unusual. It’s quite shocking.”
Police found Johnson after he called 911 and turned himself in. He will be charged with murder.
A former Texas Longhorns commit who flipped to Kevin Sumlin's Aggies late in the recruiting process, Johnson, a Skyline High product, Johnson caught 30 passes for 339 yards and a touchdown in 10 games in 2012. But days after the Aggies beat Alabama on the road, Johnson disappeared mysteriously. Police found him a few days later in his hometown of Dallas, 170 miles from where he had last been seen in College Station.
Johnson was expected to one day return to football, but in 2014 he was arrested on three charges: Evading arrest, burglary of a habitation and auto theft. Police say he broke into his aunt's house and stole her minivan and money.
The 22-year-old Johnson, who would have been a senior this year, was on probation. According to court records obtained by The Dallas Morning News, "prosecutors wanted his probation revoked because he tested positive for marijuana and failed to meet other conditions of his bond, including paying fees."
https://rivals.yahoo.com/oklahoma/football/recruiting/player-Thomas-Johnson-110750
Dallas Police say Johnson chose a victim at random on the White Rock Creek Trail, hacking a jogger to death with a "large-edged weapon." One witness says that weapon was a machete, and Johnson delivered "six or seven blows," to the jogger. The victim wasn't carrying identification; police haven't released his name as of Tuesday morning but said Monday he was white and in the age range of 25 and 35.
"It appears Mr. Johnson picked this victim at random. Absolutely random,” Deputy Chief Rob Sherwin said. “He just attacked him. … It’s just very unusual. It’s quite shocking.”
Police found Johnson after he called 911 and turned himself in. He will be charged with murder.
A former Texas Longhorns commit who flipped to Kevin Sumlin's Aggies late in the recruiting process, Johnson, a Skyline High product, Johnson caught 30 passes for 339 yards and a touchdown in 10 games in 2012. But days after the Aggies beat Alabama on the road, Johnson disappeared mysteriously. Police found him a few days later in his hometown of Dallas, 170 miles from where he had last been seen in College Station.
Johnson was expected to one day return to football, but in 2014 he was arrested on three charges: Evading arrest, burglary of a habitation and auto theft. Police say he broke into his aunt's house and stole her minivan and money.
The 22-year-old Johnson, who would have been a senior this year, was on probation. According to court records obtained by The Dallas Morning News, "prosecutors wanted his probation revoked because he tested positive for marijuana and failed to meet other conditions of his bond, including paying fees."
https://rivals.yahoo.com/oklahoma/football/recruiting/player-Thomas-Johnson-110750
