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Ex-Texas A&M football player accused of hacking jogger to death with machete

By Andrew V. Pestano

DALLAS, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Thomas Johnson, a former Texas A&M football player, was arrested in the killing of a jogger who was hacked to death with a machete.

The victim was an unidentified white man between 25 and 35 years old. He was attacked while running at Dallas' popular White Rock Creek Trail.

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Johnson, a former wide receiver who played in nine games for Texas A&M during the 2012 season, disappeared days after playing in the team's 29-24 win against No. 1 Alabama in 2012.

In 2014, Johnson was arrested for breaking into his aunt's home and stealing her minivan and money. He charged with evading arrest, burglary of a habitation and auto theft in Dallas County.

Police said Johnson was recently kicked out of his home and was full of anger. He called 911 to report the crime.

"It appears Mr. Johnson picked this victim at random. Absolutely random," Deputy Police Chief Rob Sherwin said. "He was angry about his situation."

Police said Johnson used a "large-edged weapon" to carry out the attack, which happened at about 8 a.m. Monday.

"He just attacked him... It's just very unusual. It's quite shocking," Sherwin said.

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One witness said the weapon was a machete.

"You could tell it was a machete, coming down on what I wasn't sure at first, but when I got closer I could tell it was a body," one witness told KDFW. "He was repeatedly hitting it in the back of the neck."

Johnson was on probation, but the Dallas Morning News reported prosecutors sought his arrest for testing positive for marijuana and failing other conditions, including fee payments.

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