Man Who Killed Tank Johnson's Bodyguard Gets 55 Years

Judge blasts former Bear for his "cowardice" during murder investigation

A Cook County judge on Friday blasted former Bear "Tank" Johnson for his "cowardice" during the murder investigation of his close friend  -- as the judge sentenced the man's killer to 55 years in prison for the 2006 murder.

Associate Judge Joseph M. Claps brought the hammer down on Michael Selvie, who earlier this year was found guilty of shooting Terry Johnson’s friend Willie B. Posey during a Dec. 26, 2006, fight at a River North bar.

Selvie was angry at being bumped into on the dance floor and shot Posey, leaving him to die in Johnson’s arms.

"The bottom line is he brought a gun to a fistfight and used it," Claps said of Selvie.

Claps had harsh words for Johnson as well, blasting him for "cowardice" for his attempt at self-preservation by initially telling police he wasn’t even at the bar.

Johnson "has to live with that for the rest his life," Claps said.

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