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NFL running back Chris Johnson was wounded early Sunday morning in a drive-by shooting in Orlando, Florida, that left a friend dead.
Dreekius “Rollie” Johnson, 28, was found dead in a SUV at a stop light, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. Chris Johnson, 29, was shot in the shoulder and is in stable condition. A third man, Reggie Johnson, 29, was shot in the shoulder, leg and hand and also survived, deputies said.
Chris Johnson and his friends were at a concert at an Orlando club Saturday night before the shooting, according to posts on social media by Chris Johnson and friends of the victims.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Another Vehicle Opened Fire on the SUV Johnson Was In
Deputies: 1 dead, 2 injured in drive-by shooting in Orange County- http://t.co/tbcOju8jst http://t.co/Ax1zehA7xj
The shooting happened at about 4 a.m. on Southland Boulevard near South Orange Blossom Trail, the sheriff’s office said. Dreekius Johnson was found inside the Jeep in the driver’s seat, deputies said. Chris Johnson and Reggie Johnson, who were passengers in the SUV, were found outside the Jeep on a nearby sidewalk.
Police have not yet said why Johnson’s SUV was shot at, or who the intended target was. According to the police report, an unknown vehicle pulled up behind the Jeep at a red light and someone opened fire at the SUV from inside the other vehicle.
The sheriff’s office said no other information would be released Sunday.
2. Johnson Was at Rapper Kenny Turner’s Show
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@KennyTurner3 was turnt asf last night
#RipRollie http://t.co/Z7QYD7DRO3
Chris Johnson and his friends were at Lux, an Orlando club, Saturday night, according to social media posts. They were there for Turner’s concert. Turner is a former high school football teammate and friend of Chris Johnson, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
Chris Johnson is from Orlando and was home visiting for the weekend, according to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer. Johnson had been training in Los Angeles.
3. He Was Arrested in January on a Gun Charge
Orlando police: NY Jets’ Chris Johnson had 2 guns in car. Johnson was arrested Friday. http://t.co/mYBDb4GBwY http://t.co/TXhKKuHZhz
Johnson was arrested in January on a misdemeanor gun charge after a traffic stop in Orlando. Local news station My News 13 reported that Johnson had two guns in his car. He was stopped after driving through a stop sign, police said.
According to NFL.com, Johnson was charged with second-degree open carrying of weapons/firearms. According to police, Johnson had the guns in a bag under his seat, instead of locked up, as required by law. The guns were legally registered to Johnson, according to the report.
4. He Is Set to Be a Free Agent
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The running back will become a free agent Tuesday after the New York Jets decline to pick up the second year of his contract, according to Sports Illustrated. Johnson played for one season with the Jets and the team announced last month that they would not be bringing him back.
Johnson was set to make $3.5 million in 2015, with a salary cap hit of $5.25 million. Johnson had the worst seasons of his career after signing with the Jets last year, running for 663 yards and one touchdown as New York went 4-12.
5. He Has Been in the NFL Since 2008
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The Tennessee Titans drafted Johnson in the first round of the 2008 draft out of East Carolina and spent his first six seasons there before leaving for the Jets. Nicknamed “CJ2K,” Johnson has 8,628 career rushing yards and 51 rushing touchdowns. He set the NFL record for yards from scrimmage in 2009 with 2,509. He rushed for 2,006 yards and was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year.
