Tank Johnson's 'bodyguard' shot and killed

December 17, 2006 (WLS) -- A man who was shot to death early Saturday at a River North nightclub was the same man who was arrested during a raid this week at the Gurnee home of the Bears Tank Johnson. The medical examiner has confirmed the man shot to death is in fact 26-year-old William Posey from Gurnee.

People may remember that Willie Posey was recently identified as Bears defensive lineman tank Johnson's bodyguard. He was arrested on Thursday for drug possession after a raid on Johnson's Gurnee home and was released on a $10,000 bond. The Cook County Medical Examiner's office says Posey's address is listed as Johnson's home in Gurnee.

There is no word on why he was shot. Apparently a fight broke out inside Ice Bar on North Clark Street around 1:30 AM.

Police spokeswoman Monique Bond says Tank Johnson was at the River North nightclub when Posey was fatally shot. "He (Johnson) was at the bar," Bond said. There was "no information to link him to anything that occurred at the bar at this point in the investigation," Bond added.

When police responded to the scene, they found Posey lying inside the bar, Bond said. It appeared he had been shot though the arm and possibly had a collapsed lung, she said.

Chicago Police Superintendent Phil Cline says Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson is cooperating with police as they investigate an early morning fatal shooting inside a River North nightclub.

Cline says police have already talked to Johnson and will talk with him again later today about the death of 26-year-old Willie Posey.

Cline says Posey was a roommate and friend of Johnson. He says both men were at the Ice Bar this morning when Posey was shot after an argument in the club.

Cline says no one is in custody and the gun used in the shooting was not recovered.

The attorney for Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson says Johnson is not responsible for the deadly shooting of his friend inside a nightclub.

Waukegan attorney Thomas Briscoe says Johnson is cooperating with the police investigation into Willie Posey's death early today. Briscoe says police have asked Johnson not to talk about details of the shooting.

Briscoe says Johnson has lost "a very close friend." He says he does not know why Johnson was at the nightclub.

Johnson was seen leaving Northwestern Memorial hospital early Saturday morning. William Posey was 26-years-old and a convicted felon. In 1999 he was arrested for robbing a person at gun point outside The Skokie Swift CTA train station. He was convicted of using a handgun and received a six-year sentence, and also had a felony narcotics conviction from that year and did time in the state penitentiary.

He had his own room in Tank Johnson's home. It is not clear why Johnson hired a convicted felon as his bodyguard or why he had one to begin with.

You will remember Johnson was suspended from playing in this coming Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, because of the weapons charges filed against him as a result of the raid on his home on Thursday.

Police are not saying how exactly the shooting developed inside the River North's Ice Bar, but they do say the gunman is on the run and they re still looking for him.

The Bears issued a statement Saturday that the team was aware of the shooting, but didn't mention Johnson by name. "We are currently gathering information to learn more about the situation," the statement said.

Family members talk about Willie Posey

26-year-old Willie Posey was a friend of Tank's since they were teenagers and family members say despite his criminal record, he was trying to turn his life around.

Family members describe Posey and Johnson as best friends. Posey's sisters say they're upset about media coverage of their brother that has focused on his criminal history. Instead they want people to know about his life as a family man and loyal friend.

"He hasn't made good decisions... but my brother was a good person," said Keshia Posey, Willie' sister.

Keshia Posey says her brother Willie shouldn't be remembered for what she calls his troubled past. She says he was an outstanding student in high school with a 3.7 GPA, and was loved by everyone in the family. But she admits that throughout the years he got himself caught up in some bad situations. "My brother paid his debts to society.. he was trying to get his life together," Posey said.

On Thursday Posey was arrested on felony marijuana charges after Gurnee police raided Tank Johnson's home. The 28-year old apparently had his own bedroom there. It's not the first time he's been arrested.

Here at the CTA Skokie Swift station in 1999 Posey robbed a person at gunpoint. He was convicted of using a .22 handgun in the holdup and received a 6-year sentence.

He also has a felony narcotics conviction from that year and did time in a state penitentiary.

On Saturday his sisters say they have no idea why anyone would want to hurt him, and they are looking for answers as to what happened last night. "I really feel it wasn't just a random fight, because my brother is not that type of person,"

"Everybody always looked out for him, he was one of the family favorites. I was looking forward to spending Christmas with him and joking around just like at Thanksgiving," Gwendolyn Posey said.

Even though Posey has had his share of problems, his sisters say the main reason he was trying to turn his life around, was so he could take care of his four children.

Stay with ABC7 news for continuing coverage on this story.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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