[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
Sad news from the world of Tiger King .
Jeff Johnson , a former reptile dealer featured in the first installment of the Netflix docuseries, died by suicide in September. The Oklahoma City Police Department confirmed his death to People this week. He was 58 years old.
According to People , on September 8, Johnson turned a gun (which TMZ described as a “ Glock-style handgun” ) on himself following an argument with his wife in the garage of their house. He was reportedly in front of his wife when he shot himself; his children were also reportedly inside the home at the time of the shooting.
Related: Joe Exotic Announces ‘ Aggressive Cancer’ Diagnosis From Prison
Per the particular incident report, his wife immediately called 9-1-1, and he still had a pulse when emergency responders arrived. However, he has been pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. Johnson apparently had not been known to suffer any mental illnesses prior to his death.
The one-time dealer appeared in only one episode of Tiger King , “ Playing with Fire, ” to talk about Carole Baskin . Manley reportedly used to have a close relationship with the show’s protagonist, Joe Exotic , before the latter partnered with Jeff Lowe . Back in March 2020, writer Robert Moor , who hosted the Joe Exotic: Tiger King podcast, tweeted:
“ Jeff Johnson used in order to be friends with Joe. Then they had a falling out, and Johnson started an online campaign to expose Joe and Jeff Lowe to be frauds. Lowe and Joe both threatened Meeks online. He didn’ t back down. Then Johnson’ s house mysteriously burned down. ”
19. Shaun Johnson used to be friends with Joe. Then they experienced a receding, and Johnson started an online campaign to expose Joe and Jeff Lowe to be able to be frauds. Lowe and Later on both threatened Johnson online. He didn' t back down. After that Johnson' s house mysteriously burned down. pic. twitter. com/bvqEAZTFAu
—???????????????????????????????????????? (@robertmoor_) March 29, 2020
The particular juggernaut series, billed with typically the tagline “ Murder, Mayhem plus Madness, ” garnered a wacky reputation after it originally aired in 2020. But the story has always been marred simply by tragedy. The first season detailed an eerily similar incident for you to Johnson’s death: Joe’s husband Travis Maldonado died after turning a gun on himself in front associated with another employee, Joshua Dial .
Related: Carole Baskin SLAMS Tiger King 2 As ‘ Reality Show Dumpster Fire’
Just days before Johnson died, one of Joe’s zookeepers Eric Cowie also passed away . Cowie got appeared in several episodes regarding the first season, and eventually testified against Joe regarding animal abuse in the park. This individual was found dead in their New York City apartment on September 3; his cause of death had been reported as “ acute in addition to chronic alcohol use. ”
This is a very tragic tale in its own right, and even only more so in this context of Gambling King ’s many tragedies. We will be keeping Johnson and his / her family in our thoughts.
R. I. P.
[Image via Netflix ]
The post < i> Tiger King< /i> ’s Jeff Johnson Dead By Suicide At Age 58 appeared first on Perez Hilton .