Tank Johnson ... coincidence???

So, some guy gets you busted for guns and then a couple days later that guy gets gunned down in a club you were at with him. Coincidence? For the NFL, it is doubtful. First off, why would Tank be anywhere near this guy after what happended Wednesday? This will end bad, I promise.

CHICAGO (AP) - Troubled Chicago Bears nose tackle Tank Johnson is cooperating with police investigating the fatal shooting of his friend inside a nightclub, authorities said Saturday.

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. Johnson, the Bears' starting nose tackle, will be inactive for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.

Police already have talked to Johnson once and planned to talk with him again later Saturday about the death of Willie B. Posey. The 26-year-old Posey died after a fight inside Ice Bar, a club in the city's trendy River North neighborhood, said Chicago Police Superintendent Phil Cline.

Cline described Posey as Johnson's friend and roommate. Posey had said in court earlier this week that he was Johnson's bodyguard. The Cook County medical examiner's office listed Posey's address as Johnson's home in north suburban Gurnee.

Johnson and Posey were arrested earlier this week following a raid at Johnson's home.

Posey was arrested Thursday on a count of felony cannabis possession. He was released after posting $10,000 bond and had been scheduled to return to court Dec. 21.

Johnson was not at home during the search, but later turned himself in and was arrested on misdemeanor weapons charges because six unregistered firearms were found at his residence, police said. He was released after posting 10 percent of his $1,000 bond.

Though Johnson was at the club on Friday night, police did not immediately say whether he was involved in the fight or the shooting.

"He was at the bar," said police spokesman Monique Bond. There was "no information to link him to anything that occurred at the bar at this point in the investigation."

The Bears issued a statement Saturday saying the team was aware of the shooting, but didn't mention Johnson by name.

"We are currently gathering information to learn more about the situation," the statement said.

Bears coach Lovie Smith already had decided before Posey's death that Johnson would be inactive for Sunday's game.

When police responded to the Ice Bar around 1:30 a.m., they found Posey lying inside the bar, Bond said.

He was shot in the left shoulder and the bullet entered his left chest, Cline said. Posey was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital about 2 a.m., according to the medical examiner's office.

No one at the bar returned a telephone message left Saturday by The Associated Press.

Two of the weapons seized from Johnson's home were assault-style rifles, an AR-15 and a .223 caliber, said Gurnee Police Chief Robert Jones. Three were powerful handguns _ a .44 Magnum, a .50 caliber and a .45 caliber _ and one was a .308 Winchester hunting rifle, Jones said.

Johnson practiced Friday and afterward offered a public apology. He is scheduled for a court appearance Jan. 9, which would be several days before the NFC North champion Bears play their first postseason game.

In November 2005, Johnson was sentenced to 18 months probation and 40 hours community service after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from an arrest in which a nightclub valet reported seeing Johnson with a handgun in his sport utility vehicle.

Johnson also was arrested last February after a confrontation outside a Chicago nightclub, but the charges were dropped after the police officer he allegedly scuffled with decided not to pursue the case.

 

You know, if the government hadn't taken all his guns, he might still be alive. ;D

 

Why would he be anywhere near the guy? I'm sure the bodyguard is just a bad influnce on nice ol' Tank.

This guy's a thug, plain and simple, and the Bears better get rid of him quickly.

 

What's the name of that bar, The Ice Bar? Well, his bodyguard got iced pretty fucking good last night....

 

OUTING ALERT: The AP writer is a Brit!

How do I know?

 

God, that's like an Encyclopedia Brown question...and damned if I know!

 

IJAG, where's Sally Kimball when we need her to flex her muscles??

Bugs Meany still suck. ;D ;D ;D