Video Shows Florida State QB De'Andre Johnson Punch Woman in the Face
Florida State University expelled freshman quarterback De'Andre Johnson after video footage released on Monday showed him punching a woman at a bar in Tallahassee.
The incident occurred on June 24 when the 19-year-old football player got into a confrontation with an unnamed female student at Yianni's bar.
In surveillance video released by Florida's State Attorney's Office, Johnson appears to push past the woman who is standing by the bar. The woman turns to her right and seems to say something to Johnson, as he continues to move towards the bar on her left-hand side. A few moments later, the woman turns to her left and confronts the athlete with a closed fist. Johnson then grabs the woman's right wrist and she takes a swing at him with her left arm. In response, Johnson punches her in the face with his right hand, knocking over several drinks on the bar.
Johnson was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery after he turned himself in at the Leon County jail six days later. He was then released on a $500 bond, according to SB Nation.
Before the video's release, Johnson was suspended indefinitely from the team due to the accusations.
On Monday, Coach Jimbo Fisher announced Johnson's immediate dismissal from the FSU program.
"De'Andre Johnson has been dismissed from the football team effective immediately. Johnson was indefinitely suspended on June 25 following initial reports of an incident that occurred off campus and resulted in a criminal charge," he said, reports The Guardian.
Police documents state that the woman suffered bruising near her left eye, a swollen left cheek and upper lip, and a small cut near on her nose.
"The video is very telling. She is going to be a good witness," State's attorney Willie Meggs told ESPN.
Johnson, who enrolled at FSU in January after graduating high school early, is being represented by prominent attorney Jose Baez, who helped Casey Anthony get acquitted in a murder trial in 2011.
Baez issued a statement on Monday before Johnson's expulsion: "While it is clear from the video that De'Andre Johnson was not the initial aggressor, his family wants to take the lead in helping him learn and grow from this experience. He is currently participating in community service and faith-based programs focused on battered women, substance abuse and the empowerment of children.
"De'Andre is extremely embarrassed by this situation and would like to express his heartfelt apologies to everyone, including those who were directly affected, Coach Fisher and his teammates, the entire Florida State University community, as well as his family and friends."
Baez also alleges that the woman used "racial epithets" when speaking to his client.
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