$1 million bonds set in student’s slaying

Three Fort Hays State football players among suspects arrested in beating death

? A judge set bond at $1 million Thursday for two Fort Hays State University football players and a third man arrested in the death of another student.

Clint Johnson, 18, of Healy, a business major, was killed during a fight Nov. 13 at an apartment complex north of the campus, authorities said. Ellis County Atty. Tom Drees has said numerous people were involved in several skirmishes that night at the complex.

Three football players — Bradley Deary, a 21-year-old junior from Smithville, Texas; Luis Llamas, 23, a senior from San Diego; and Christopher Ross, 19, a freshman from Wylie, Texas — were arrested Wednesday in Johnson’s death. Also arrested was Fort Hays student Jaime Lopez III, 23, a senior from Chula Vista, Calif

Drees said a judge found probable cause Thursday to hold Deary, Llamas and Lopez on suspicion of first-degree murder and other charges. Bond for the men was set at $1 million each.

Ross was being held on $40,000 bond on suspicion of aggravated battery.

Drees said he expected to charge the men within the next 10 days.

A fifth man — Steven Vincent, 21, an Emporia State University student from Americus — was arrested under suspicion of felony obstruction of a criminal investigation. He was released after posting a $2,500 bond, Drees said.

Fort Hays State University President Edward Hammond said the school would discipline the students. The athletic department already has suspended Deary, Llamas and Ross from the football team, which ended its season Saturday.

“The university community is extremely disappointed in the alleged behavior of four of its students,” Hammond said in a statement. “Physical abuse of another human being is unacceptable behavior and will be dealt with not only by the criminal justice system but by the university judicial system.”