Former Florida Gator found dead in his car after suicide at age 22
theGRIO REPORT - A talented college football player, who played at the University of Florida and then Duquesne University, has died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound...
A talented college football player, who played at the University of Florida and then Duquesne University, has died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Chris “Juice” Johnson, from Ocala, Florida, took his own life Friday night in Churchill, Pennsylvania, according to the Allegheny Council medical examiner’s office. The football star was just 22-years-old, reports the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.
Johnson earned his nickname in high school for his talents playing running back; Coaches said he was like OJ Simpson. He continued to keep in touch with his high school coaches, including Justin Wentworth, who told the Ocala Star Banner he had talked with Johnson earlier in the week and everything seemed fine.
“When I texted with him on Wednesday, it was all good. You wouldn’t have known anything,” Wentworth said. “He said everything was going good, he was typical upbeat. Getting this news hurts deep. It’s a knife to the heart.”
Johnson was a senior defensive back at Duquesne. He had transferred to the school two years ago from the University of Floriday.
Jerry Schmitt, Duquesne football coach, said he and the team were “deeply saddened” by the loss. Since the news of Johnson’s death broke, social media has flooded with words of comfort and consolation from fellow students and fellow athletes as well as friends and family.
