Guardian
July 8, 2015
Florida State University has dismissed freshman quarterback De’Andre Johnson from their football team after video footage released on Monday showed him punching a woman at a bar in Tallahassee last month.
In a brief statement late 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.”
Johnson, 19, was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery following the incident at Yianni’s bar in Tallahassee on 24 June. The footage shows Johnson in an altercation with a woman at the bar, and the pair appear to jostle and argue for a few seconds. Johnson places his hands on the unnamed woman, and she raises her hands and aims a fist at Johnson. Johnson responds by punching her in the face, as drinks are sent flying across the bar.
The video was made public on Monday.
State’s attorney Willie Meggs said he will prosecute the case. After reviewing the footage, which was captured by security cameras inside the bar, Meggs made the decision to charge Johnson. The quarterback, 19, turned himself in at the Leon County jail six days after the incident, when a warrant was issued for his arrest.