Horrifying 911 calls from Rudi Johnson’s suicide released

Multiple people called 911 to report “somebody screaming” and cries for help before former NFL star Rudi Johnson’s suicide at an apartment building in Florida just after midnight last Tuesday, according to police audio obtained by TMZ.

One caller told the 911 dispatcher she saw someone — later identified as Johnson — fall from the balcony of a building near her residence in Sunny Isles, Fla., at around 11 p.m. ET on Sept. 22.

“It’s building in front of me, I just saw someone jump off the building … They jumped off the balcony into the pool,” the anonymous caller said.

“There was multiple people on the balcony … Somebody was screaming, saying, ‘Help me.’

Rudi Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals poses for his 2006 NFL headshot at photo day in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Getty Images

“I looked over and somebody was screaming ‘Help me, help me!’ screaming at at the top of their longs, so I looked over and I saw somebody just completely falling off the balcony.”

When the 911 dispatcher asked the caller if she heard anything before the incident, she responded, “I heard somebody screaming, saying, ‘Help! Help! Don’t do this. Don’t do this. Somebody help me. Somebody help me.’ It was a woman.”

Johnson was pronounced dead after he was rushed to the hospital, according to TMZ.

Rudi Johnson breaks away from Detroit’s Cory Redding during the forth quarter at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 18, 2005.
EPA

In separate audio, another caller described similar details to another 911 dispatcher.

“I just heard people screaming and a huge … bang,” the second caller said. “I heard people screaming for help in the pool … I heard a lot of screaming … And then a huge boom.”

Five people called police to report the incident, according to TMZ.

A spokesperson for the Miami Dade Sheriff’s Office told TMZ, “There’s no foul play suspected,” and the matter “has been unequivocally deemed a suicide.”

TMZ reported that Johnson had been “struggling with mental health issues and the possible effects of CTE that he could not overcome.”

Cincinnati Bengals great Rudi Johnson greets the crowd before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Paul Brown Stadium on December 4, 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Getty Images

The Bengals drafted Johnson in the fourth round with the No. 100 overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft and he became their single-season rushing yards leader.

Johnson played eight years in the NFL, rushing for 5,979 yards and 49 touchdowns.

He spent seven of his eight seasons with Cincinnati, appearing in 81 games with the franchise and starting 59. Johnson made his lone Pro Bowl in 2004.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson (32) runs against the St. Louis Rams in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, December 9, 2007, in Cincinnati.
AP

His family and friends held a memorial ceremony on Miami Beach on Wednesday, which would have been his 46th birthday.

“Rudi was a fine person and an excellent running back for us,”Bengals owner Mike Brown said in a statement. “He was dependable and productive as a player, and very popular among his teammates. Everyone liked him and saw him as a dear friend. We are deeply saddened by his passing.”

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for free and confidential crisis counseling.

Multiple people called 911 to report “somebody screaming” and cries for help before former NFL star Rudi Johnson’s suicide at an apartment building in Florida just after midnight last Tuesday, according to police audio obtained by TMZ.

One caller told the 911 dispatcher she saw someone — later identified as Johnson — fall from the balcony of a building near her residence in Sunny Isles, Fla., at around 11 p.m. ET on Sept. 22.

“It’s building in front of me, I just saw someone jump off the building … They jumped off the balcony into the pool,” the anonymous caller said.

“There was multiple people on the balcony … Somebody was screaming, saying, ‘Help me.’

Rudi Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals poses for his 2006 NFL headshot at photo day in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Getty Images

“I looked over and somebody was screaming ‘Help me, help me!’ screaming at at the top of their longs, so I looked over and I saw somebody just completely falling off the balcony.”

When the 911 dispatcher asked the caller if she heard anything before the incident, she responded, “I heard somebody screaming, saying, ‘Help! Help! Don’t do this. Don’t do this. Somebody help me. Somebody help me.’ It was a woman.”

Johnson was pronounced dead after he was rushed to the hospital, according to TMZ.

Rudi Johnson breaks away from Detroit’s Cory Redding during the forth quarter at Ford Field in Detroit on Dec. 18, 2005.
EPA

In separate audio, another caller described similar details to another 911 dispatcher.

“I just heard people screaming and a huge … bang,” the second caller said. “I heard people screaming for help in the pool … I heard a lot of screaming … And then a huge boom.”

Five people called police to report the incident, according to TMZ.

A spokesperson for the Miami Dade Sheriff’s Office told TMZ, “There’s no foul play suspected,” and the matter “has been unequivocally deemed a suicide.”

TMZ reported that Johnson had been “struggling with mental health issues and the possible effects of CTE that he could not overcome.”

Cincinnati Bengals great Rudi Johnson greets the crowd before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Paul Brown Stadium on December 4, 2016 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Getty Images

The Bengals drafted Johnson in the fourth round with the No. 100 overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft and he became their single-season rushing yards leader.

Johnson played eight years in the NFL, rushing for 5,979 yards and 49 touchdowns.

He spent seven of his eight seasons with Cincinnati, appearing in 81 games with the franchise and starting 59. Johnson made his lone Pro Bowl in 2004.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson (32) runs against the St. Louis Rams in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, December 9, 2007, in Cincinnati.
AP

His family and friends held a memorial ceremony on Miami Beach on Wednesday, which would have been his 46th birthday.

“Rudi was a fine person and an excellent running back for us,”Bengals owner Mike Brown said in a statement. “He was dependable and productive as a player, and very popular among his teammates. Everyone liked him and saw him as a dear friend. We are deeply saddened by his passing.”

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis, you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org for free and confidential crisis counseling.

More from author

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related posts

Latest posts

Gene Simmons, Who Once Ripped Trump as ‘Out for Himself,’ Tells Mark Ruffalo and Ben Stiller to ‘Shut the F— Up’ About Politics

KISS frontman Gene Simmons says he's over celebrities talking about politics. In a Tuesday, March 10, interview with TMZ, Simmons, 76, was asked what he thought about famous...

Harvey Weinstein Describes Prison Life in Rikers as ‘Hell,’ Claims He Was ‘Hurt Really Badly’ by Another Inmate

Harvey Weinstein is opening up about life at Rikers Island. In his first major sit-down since being transferred to the maximum-security prison in New York six...

Donald Trump Appoints Erika Kirk to Fill Position Held by Late Husband Charlie on Air Force Academy Board

Donald Trump has appointed Erika Kirk to a new position which was previously held by her late husband, Charlie Kirk. Erika, 37, has been appointed by Trump, 79, to...

Sydney Towle Gives Emotional Update on Cancer Treatment After Receiving ‘Bad News’ in Recent Scans

Sydney Towle is sharing the results of her latest CT scans, which confirmed some of her fears about her ongoing cancer treatment. On Wednesday, March 4,...

A Swimming Accident Left Him Paralyzed. Then an Unexpected Encounter with a Therapist Changed His Love Story Forever

Cole Sydnor became a quadriplegic in August 2011, when he was just a teenager. He sustained a spinal cord injury after a misjudged dive...

Donald Trump Isn’t Invited to Obama Center’s Grand Opening, but George W. Bush Will Be

There will be more than one former president at the opening ceremony of the Obama Presidential Center, just not the one who's currently in office. The...

Want to stay up to date with the latest news?

We would love to hear from you! Please fill in your details and we will stay in touch. It's that simple!