‘Help Me!’: Chilling 911 Calls Released After Rudi Johnson’s Death

Disturbing new details have emerged surrounding the death of former NFL running back Rudi Johnson, as audio of 911 calls related to the incident has been released.

Multiple witnesses dialed 911 late at night on September 22 after hearing screams and pleas for help at an apartment building in Sunny Isles, Florida. According to police audio obtained by TMZ, one caller described seeing a man — later identified as Johnson — fall from a balcony into a pool around 11 p.m.

“There was multiple people on the balcony,” the caller said. “Somebody was screaming, saying, ‘Help me.’ … I looked over and saw somebody just completely falling off the balcony.” Another woman told dispatchers she had heard shouts of “Help! Don’t do this. Somebody help me!” before the incident.

Five separate 911 calls were made, all painting a similarly chaotic and heartbreaking scene. Johnson was rushed to a hospital but was later pronounced dead.

Authorities have ruled the case a suicide and stated that no foul play is suspected. TMZ reported that Johnson had been struggling with mental health issues and possible effects of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Johnson, drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2001, played eight seasons in the NFL, rushing for 5,979 yards and 49 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl in 2004 and remains the Bengals’ single-season rushing leader.

On Wednesday — what would have been his 46th birthday — Johnson’s family and friends held a memorial ceremony on Miami Beach. Bengals owner Mike Brown released a statement calling Johnson “dependable and productive” and “very popular among his teammates,” adding, “We are deeply saddened by his passing.”