For now, the first chapter in the mysterious death of Billey Joe Johnson is closed, with a grand jury ruling it an accident. Johnson, 17, a junior at George County High School, in Lucedale, Miss., died Dec. 8, 2008, of a wound to the head after being pulled over by a deputy for running a red light.

An initial investigation ruled that the shotgun blast was self-inflicted but questions remained about how this promising young football player died. According to the grand jury, there was no forensic evidence, including DNA, that indicated that the deputy who pulled Johnson over fired the gun. In fact, the report says, "The grand jury finds ... that Deputy Joe Sullivan was in his patrol car at the time of Billey Joe Johnson, Jr.'s death."

The document stated that Johnson's hands tested positive for gunpowder residue and that there were no other injuries on his body. Therefore, the grand jury found that there were no other people involved in the shooting. But the report does not sit well with Johnson's mother, Annette. "I ain't buying that," she said of the grand jury's conclusion. "We are going further and we are going higher."

Who can blame her? The loss of a child is unimaginable, often described as the greatest pain by those who have suffered the loss. So, it makes sense that Annette Johnson would not want to accept that her son, whether accidentally or intentionally, took his own life. The grand jury ruling will by no means be the end of this case.

Johnson family attorney Jerome Carter has said his independent investigation of the case will continue. The NAACP said it would submit its evidence to the Justice Department and ask for a federal probe. Tragically, no matter what happens from here, another promising young brother has died under suspicious causes.