Former Texas A&M football player charged with murdering jogger
DALLAS — A former Texas A&M University football player has been arrested on suspicion of slashing a jogger to death with a “large blade knife” on a popular Dallas hike-and-bike trail, police said on Tuesday.
Thomas Johnson, 21, a wide receiver on the Texas A&M football team in 2012, was arrested shortly after the attack on Monday morning on White Rock Creek Trail and confessed to the crime, police said.
He was charged with murder and held in Dallas County Jail on Tuesday on $500,000 bail. No lawyer was listed for him in jail records.
Police said the male jogger, between 25 and 35 years of age, was not carrying identification.
“He was found on the trail with injuries consistent with a large-edged weapon,” Dallas Deputy Police Chief Rob Sherwin told a news conference.
Multiple people saw the attack and called police. The jogger was taken to a local hospital where he died.
Johnson was a freshman wide receiver for Texas A&M who went missing from the College Station campus in November 2012, a few days after catching three passes in the Aggies’ upset victory over then-No. 1 Alabama.
Johnson resurfaced three days later unharmed in Dallas and never returned to play college football. He had been a standout football player at Dallas Skyline High School.
Elliott to be Gamecocks’ interim coach
Shawn Elliott, co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, will be the interim coach at South Carolina, replacing Steve Spurrier. The move is effective immediately.
Spurrier told his team Monday night that he was retiring, a surprising move six games into the 2015 season, albeit a disappointing one off to a 2-4 start. It’s the first losing season for Spurrier since 1987.
South Carolina is 0-4 in Southeastern Conference play.
Ovechkin misses game for personal reasons
WASHINGTON — The Washington Capitals announced that left winger Alex Ovechkin missed Tuesday night’s game against the San Jose Sharks because of personal reasons.
Capitals coach Barry Trotz said earlier in the day that Ovechkin would be a game-time decision after missing the team’s morning skate for personal reasons but did not elaborate.
Ovechkin arrived at the Verizon Center around 6 p.m. ET and did not take the ice during pregame warmups.
After leading the league with 53 goals last season, he opened the 2015-16 campaign by scoring the go-ahead goal and adding an assist in Washington’s 5-3 victory over New Jersey on Saturday.
Anderson has another ankle procedure
Washington Wizards forward Alan Anderson had a small bone fragment removed from his left ankle on Tuesday.
Anderson had undergone left ankle surgery in May to remove spurs but was bothered by a fragment that remained and caused irritation.
It’s undetermined how long Anderson’s recovery will take, but rehab is scheduled to begin immediately. The procedure was performed by Dr. David Porter at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
Anderson landed with the Wizards on July 12 after signing as a free agent. He played for the Brooklyn Nets last season and averaged 7.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 74 games and 19 starts.
Lightning sign Masin
The Tampa Bay Lightning signed defenseman Dominik Masin to a three-year, entry-level contract on Tuesday.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Masin is in his second season with Peterborough of the Ontario Hockey League after he was selected in the second round (35th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft by the Lightning.
The 19-year-old has one assist in seven games this season and seven goals and 27 career points in 55 games for the Petes.
The Czech Republic native played in five games for his country in the 2015 World Junior Championships and had one assist.