Former college football star accused of killing jogger at random
DALLAS - Police say a former Texas A&M football star killed a jogger with a machete, and admitted to choosing the victim randomly, reports CBS DFW.
Thomas Johnson, 21, has been charged with murder in the Monday morning death of the jogger, who police were still unable identify Tuesday morning.
Police say after Johnson killed the victim, who was running without identification along the tree-lined White Rock Creek Trail in Dallas, Johnson walked to a nearby equestrian center and called 911.
It was unclear whether he confessed to the dispatcher over the phone. The victim is described as a white male who could be in his mid 20's or 30's.
On Monday, Johnson allegedly told police he was angry about his situation in life.
"He stated he was put out of his home. I don't know for how long," said Deputy Chief Rob Sherwin.
Johnson was once a rising football star. He was a high profile recruit from Dallas's Skyline High School and became a celebrated wide receiver for Texas A&M. Johnson was considered by many to be the pride of the South Oak Cliff neighborhood where he grew up, according to CBS DFW.
"Everyone was proud of him but you could tell after he lost everything that his whole life changed. He just went down," said a one-time neighbor.
In 2012, the then 18-year-old college freshman was reported missing days after making a key play to help his team beat then-top ranked Alabama. He resurfaced, but would never play football for Texas A&M again. The school, Johnson, his family and the police never commented publicly about why Johnson disappeared from the school.
"I couldn't understand him doing anything but trying to get himself back together," said Anthony Billard, who watched Johnson grow up.
In an April 2014 interview with the San Antonio Express News, Johnson's mother Linda Hanks said she was optimistic Johnson would return to football.
"He's working out, he's getting in shape, and he shall return," Hanks vowed.
But later in 2014, he was arrested and charged with evading arrest, burglary of a habitation and auto theft, after allegedly breaking into his aunt's home, and stealing money and her minivan, the Dallas Morning News reports.
In a Tuesday morning phone call with 48 Hours Crimesider, Hanks said she wasn't ready to comment publicly about Johnson's arrest or the events of the last few years.