The death of Billie Joe Johnson

The Death of Billy Joe Johnson The post comparing the NAACP to the KKK was pretty much it for me. I write of the comments to the article in the Sun Herald on Dec 11 about the NAACP making a request for an examination. The posters on this thread are such racists that they cannot see a difference between an organization that lynched people and rode with guns and fire at night, to an organization that has pursued all of its remedies eschewing violence. Never has the NAACP lynched. Never has the NAACP used a torch.

I live amongst people who do not see the falseness of their supposed analogy.I am only sure of two things in this case. First, Billie Joe is dead. And second, all information beyond that has been provided by an unnamed Sheriff’s deputy. There is absolutely no evidence to corroborate the information provided by Sheriff’s office -- it has as its only source an unnamed sheriff’s deputy -- who happens to be the same person who in this story is caught with a dead black child and a shotgun. I ask you, had Billie Joe been caught in the same situation -- the officer dead by his own weapon, and Billie Joe standing there -- do you think we would be giving the same credibility to Billie Joe, “Oh that’s all right Billie Joe, cops commit suicide over minor stuff during traffic stops all the time. Get home before curfew Billie Joe.”As with most tragic stories, there is dark comic relief abounding. Many posters complain that by the family asking the NAACP to look into the investigation they have played the “race card”. The “race card”? This event happened in Lucedale, MS. The name of their high school football team is the “Rebels”. They wave confederate battle flags. They have battle flags on their cars. It’s on the state flag. The citizens of Lucedale, MS wake up everyday to the sight of the “race card” laying face up on the table. No one needs to play it. It has never left. Billie Joe’s parents, in all probability, are not politically connected individuals in George County. I can imagine in this, their time of grief, they are reaching out to friends and acquaintances, hoping to find someone to help them insure the integrity of the investigation. One would think that if Mr. Johnson was a member of the Knights of Columbus he might request their help. That would not be playing the “religion card”, it would be simply reaching out to those you feel could help you.


Mr. Johnson probably has friends and acquaintances in the NAACP. That organization is one with known political strength, contacts, and acumen. It would only be natural to seek their assistance.This morning, Dec 12, for the first time since the killing, the Sun Herald has stopped reporting the alleged traffic stop and events supposedly detailed by the officer to be fact. Instead of reporting that “Billey Joe ran a stop sign,” the paper recited that “the officer claims Billey Joe ran a stop sign“. Perhaps the stone wall is starting to erode. And the easily answered questions are starting to mount.

A. The family was denied access to their son’s body until after the autopsy. The body lay on the side of the street for eight hours with plastic tarps hiding the scene. The talk on the street is that this was done to conceal the issue of the number and location of the wound (or wounds). Initial reports had the blast to the abdomen. Now the talk is that the blast was to the head. During this period officers could be seen in the vicinity of the body behind the screen. The opportunity to continue to adjust and sanitize the scene continued. Where are the wounds? How many?

B. The tale about the traffic stop and license check is incredibly weak. Why would the officer have to check the driver’s license of Billy Joe Johnson? He was a local legend. This is Lucedale, where it is football, football, football. Billey Joe started at running back for George County High School as a freshman. He gained 1500 yards. And he did it again as a sophomore, again as a junior. He led his team to the playoffs three straight years, the state finals once. Even people in Ocean Springs knew him -- he shredded our defense for 200 yards and 4 touchdowns just a month ago. The idea that a George County Sheriff’s deputy did not know who Billey Jo was is absurd. And a license check? If there were any wants or warrants on Billey Jo the janitor at the courthouse would know it -- certainly a deputy would. Too much information is attributed to this deputy. If the sheriff is going to quote him, he needs to identify him. The gossip is already that the sheriff’s office has not yet selected which deputy will draw the job -- they are assessing which officer would handle the situation best before they give a name. What is the name of the officer?

C. How did the shotgun arrive on the scene? Supposedly it was being carried in a truck. Did Billie Joe have a rifle rack in his truck? Wouldn’t the gun have been readily visible? Who has identified the shotgun as Billie Joe’s? Or is this another nameless source?

D. There were earlier reports of a restraining order and perhaps Billie Joe violating it. Is there a restraining order? Who issued it? What was the factual predicate upon which the order was issued? Was there ever a hearing -- did Billy Joe ever receive his day in court, or was this done without his knowledge and presence? Ex parte orders (those where the initial order is entered without the defendant knowing about it or even given a chance to present his side of the story) are legal, but they are the subject of great abuse. Not only do judges sometimes issue them on scant evidence, often times the person obtaining the order misrepresents the facts in order to obtain it. This is an area where lies and deceit are rarely punished -- many orders are issued where the case actually has no merit. What are the full -- as in affidavits, applications, orders, notes of hearing -- facts surrounding this “maybe it exists maybe it doesn’t“, order?

E. The District Attorney announced today that there would be no information provided until the case is presented to the grand jury. Since any information presented to a grand jury is confidential and not capable of being disclosed, it looks like it is the intention of the law enforcement authorities to never release the truth. I would imagine that we will receive a statement from the grand jury that looks something like this:We, the grand jury, have examined the evidence find that Billie Joe Johnson died at his own hand, either accidently, through the unintentional discharge of a weapon, or intentionally. In neither instance do we believe a crime has been committed. This Grand Jury has determined that the officer involved -- name -- acted properly blah blah blah.”What is shocking is that the DA, the Sheriff, and other law enforcement authorities believe this will just go away.
It ain’t going away.
Not this time.