Former Ohio State fullback Dionte Johnson's downtown Columbus shoe and apparel store, Sole Classics, was damaged and looted during a protest in response to the killing of George Floyd on Friday night.
Multiple videos surfaced on social media that showed people breaking into Johnson's store and stealing items.
On Sunday, Johnson shared an Instagram post with a donation link for anyone who wants to help pay for the damages and lost inventory. Any donations that exceed the costs of Sole Classics' damages will be donated to neighboring minority-owned small businesses that were also damaged during the protests, Johnson said.
Johnson expressed his gratitude for the outpouring of support he has received over the past two days, and said on Twitter that he will not be pursuing criminal charges against the looters. In an Instagram post, Johnson expressed that he is “not worried about the stuff, I'm worried about the people.”
Johnson, an Ohio State team captain who played for the Buckeyes from 2004-07, purchased Sole Classics from its original owners in 2010. The store has since expanded to two locations, one in the Short North (846 North High Street) and one in Dublin (6391 Sawmill Road).