A 56-year-old Texas professional bass angler was shot to death at a Mississippi hotel Sunday.
James “Jimmy” Johnson, of Ganado, was competing in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open tournament on Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson.
Jackson Police Department officials said Johnson was shot to death at a Motel 6, where he and his wife were staying during the tournament. A police spokeswoman said incident is being investigated as a homicide, and police are looking for a black male who appeared on security cameras at the motel, according to a news release.
Chris Bowes, senior tournament manager for the Bassmaster Opens, said he received a call from a friend of Johnson’s Sunday night saying that Johnson had discovered someone burglarizing his bass boat, according to the release.
“Jimmy was a terrific angler, as he has shown through the Bassmaster Opens,” said Bowes, in the release. “More than that, he was a tremendous guy. He will be deeply missed.”
Johnson ranked 11th in the Central Opens standings after two events.
