After being wounded by a gunshot Aug. 16, senior defensive back Marquise Johnson went to Newman Regional Health. There, the Emporia Police Department responded to the incident, and then Johnson was transported to Stormont Vail in Topeka.
His wounds were considered serious, but not life threatening, according to the press release. At Stormont Vail, Johnson underwent two surgeries, said a GoFundMe created to raise money for him.
“It became evident that it was either his life or his leg,” the GoFundMe said. “Marquise’s left leg has been amputated from the knee down.”
Since the GoFundMe page was created Aug. 21 by Betsy Stewart, a former classmate of Johnson’s, it has raised $5,213 out of the goal of $6,000.
“(Johnson) was a light in my day, always joking and laughing and making other people laugh,” Stewart wrote in the description of the fundraiser. “I know that he is a strong guy and I also know that he is humble and would probably never ask for help.”
The wound that led to the amputation of Johnson’s leg occurred at 7:45 p.m. Aug. 16, near 10 S Commercial Street in Emporia, according to the police incident report. The gun, a Beretta APX 9mm handgun, fired and the bullet struck and injured Johnson, the report said.
“Marquise was a passenger in a car where another person in the car had a gun,” the GoFundMe said. “It was a senseless yet life changing mistake as the gun fired and punctured Marquise in the left leg.”
The incident is classified as aggravated battery and reckless great bodily harm, according to the incident report.
There were two other passengers in the car and no other injuries were reported. There have been no arrests made regarding the incident, as of Wednesday.
