By Carla K. Johnson
CHICAGO — Bears nose tackle Tank Johnson, already facing weapons charges after a raid on his home, is not responsible for the deadly shooting of his friend inside a nightclub, the player’s lawyer said yesterday.
Johnson was co-operating with the investigation into Willie B. Posey’s death yesterday, but police have asked him not to discuss the shooting, lawyer Thomas Briscoe said.
“Tank Johnson has absolutely no responsibility for this tragic shooting,” Briscoe said. “He lost a very close friend.”
Police talked to Johnson at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where Posey was pronounced dead early yesterday, police superintendent Phil Cline said.
The 26-year-old Posey died after a fight inside Ice Bar, a club in the trendy River North neighbourhood, Cline said. No one was in custody and the gun was not recovered, Cline added. He said it appears one shot was fired.
The shooting occurred about 12 hours after Johnson offered a public apology to teammates and family for his third arrest in the past 18 months. Briscoe said he did not know why Johnson was at the club.
There was “no information to link him to anything that occurred at the bar at this point in the investigation,” police spokesman Monique Bond said.
The Bears said yesterday they were aware of the shooting, but didn’t mention Johnson.
“We are currently gathering information to learn more about the situation,” a team statement said.
Bears coach Lovie Smith had decided before Posey’s death that Johnson would be inactive for today’s game against Tampa Bay. Johnson is to appear in court Jan. 9, which would be several days before the NFC North-champion Bears play their first post-season game.
When police arrived at the Ice Bar at about 1:30 a.m., they found Posey sprawled inside, Bond said. He was shot in the left shoulder, Cline said.
Posey said in court this week he was Johnson’s bodyguard.
Johnson and Posey were arrested this week following a raid at Johnson’s home. Posey was arrested Thursday on a count of felony cannabis possession.
Johnson was not home during the search, but later surrendered and was arrested on misdemeanour weapons charges because six unregistered firearms were found at his residence, police said. He was released after posting 10% of his $1,000 bond.
Edited by Joey, 19 December 2006 - 07:22 PM.
