Just a few years after dominating the NFL and becoming one of the league’s most explosive running backs, Chris Johnson now finds himself accused in a murder-for-hire shooting, per TMZ Sports.
Johnson, who played in the NFL from 2008-’17, is accused of funding a shooting that left two men dead in 2016, according to court documents obtained by TMZ Sports.
While officials in Orlando, Fla. haven’t filed charges of a crime against Johnson, they are presenting a case that the running back paid and provided material support for a man who is accused of murdering Johnson’s friend in 2015.
Johnson was with his friend Dreekius Johnson in 2015 when a car pulled up next to their Jeep at a red light and opened fire. The former All-Pro running back suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder and his friend was killed in the shooting.
According to court documents, an informant told law enforcement that Johnson provided funds and someone to provide an alleged gang member with narcotics. The suspected gang member, Dominic Bolden, is accused of then murdering one of the men on Jan. 19, 2016 and the second man on July 24, 2016. Both men were believed to be the shooters who opened fire on Johnson.
Court documents also allege that Johnson helped with day-to-day operations of a drug trafficking organization.
Johnson was a three-time Pro Bowl selection with the Tennessee Titans before joining the New York Jets in 2014. He would spend the next three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, from 2015-’17.
Johnson denied the allegations to TMZ Sports, saying there is no validity to them.