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Florida State University wasted no time dismissing freshman Quarterback De’Andre Johnson after video released yesterday shows him punching a woman in the face. Johnson was charged with battery, but as Mike Vasilinda tells us, the football player and his family say it is the woman who should face charges.

In a  written statement and in an interview, De’Andre Johnson’s lawyer, Jose Baez,  says the woman in the June 24th altercation in a Tallahassee bar was the initial aggressor.

“It began with the woman turning around and raising her fist at him. She later strikes him in the groin area with her leg. And then takes a swing at him before he even responds” says Baez.

The family is calling for the woman to be charged, But State Attorney Willie Meggs says he went over the video frame by frame with the woman, who says the first contact was by Johnson when he elbowed her in the back. She turns to tell him to back off…he them pushes his way to the bar where she raises her hand. He grabs her. She responds by kneeing him and attempting to throw a punch. He then lets loose with a right to her face.

Q:”Both the lawyer and the family are saying that she should be charged.”

“I can tell you one hundred percent she is not going to be charged” says Meggs.  “She is not going to be arrested. She was not the agressor in this case.”

State Attorney Meggs says the video is very strong evidence, and he says the woman still has a black eye.

We went to the woman’s Tallahassee address to ask her about the altercation.
“apparently not home.:”

In a written statement just hours after the video was released, the FSU football program dismissed Johnson from the team. He had previously been suspended indefinitely.

Today, FSU President John Thrasher issued a statement supporting the dismissal. Johnson has entered a not guilty plea and is due in a Leon County Court on July 22nd.