By Shelia Byrd

Associated Press

LUCEDALE, Miss. — A star Mississippi high school football player accidentally shot himself with his shotgun after he was pulled over during a traffic stop, a grand jury ruled Thursday.

Billey Joe Johnson, 17, a junior at southern Mississippi's George County High School, died of a wound to the left side of his head on Dec. 8 after a deputy pulled him over for running a red light.

After an initial investigation, authorities said the blast had been self-inflicted. The grand jury was looking at whether it was an accident, suicide or even a possible slaying.