Chris Johnson in stable condition

ByRich Cimini ESPN logo
Sunday, March 8, 2015

Former New York Jets and Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson is in stable condition after being shot in the shoulder during a drive-by shooting that occurred at 4 a.m. Sunday at an intersection in Orlando, Florida, according to police.

The driver of the vehicle, Dreekius Oricko Johnson, 28, was killed by gunfire, according to the Orange County sheriff's department.

Johnson and Reggie Johnson, 29, were passengers in the Jeep, per the sheriff's office. The latter Johnson suffered gunshot wounds to his shoulder, hand and leg. He, too, is in stable condition.

No arrests have been made in what police are calling a homicide investigation.

According to a police report, deputies arrived at the scene to find a Jeep with one deceased man and two others with gunshot wounds on the sidewalk. The victims said an unknown vehicle pulled up beside them at a red light and opened fire.

The sheriff's office said no further information will be released at this time.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with Chris and everyone impacted by this tragic event," the Jets said in a statement.

Chris Johnson, 29, is poised to become a free agent Tuesday. After one season with the Jets, the team declined last month to exercise an option for 2015, setting him free. Johnson blasted the Jets' previous management team in a radio interview, saying it lied to him about his role within the offense.

This marks his second off-the-field incident this offseason. In January, he was arrested in Orlando -- his hometown -- and charged with the open carrying of a firearm, a second-degree misdemeanor. According to police, Johnson was stopped after rolling through a stop sign. Upon approaching the car, an officer noticed the handle of a handgun on the floor between two seats. Johnson was released on $250 bond.

Johnson is coming off the most frustrating year of his career. In his first season with the Jets, he recorded career lows in carries (155), rushing yards (663) and rushing touchdowns (one).

The former Titans star, released by Tennessee in April, signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Jets but never ascended into a starting role, as he split time with Chris Ivory.

With 8,628 yards, Johnson is the fifth-leading active rusher in the NFL. He is one of only seven players to rush for 2,000 yards in a season.

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