Who Killed CJ‘s Mom in GTA San Andreas?
In the iconic 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the death of protagonist Carl "CJ" Johnson‘s mother Beverly is what first draws him back to his home neighborhood of Los Santos from Liberty City. This traumatic event sparks CJ‘s quest for justice and redemption throughout the game‘s story.
The Drive-By Shooting
In 1992, Beverly Johnson was killed in a drive-by shooting at her home in the Grove Street cul-de-sac in Ganton, Los Santos. This fatal attack was orchestrated by Frank Tenpenny and Eddie Pulaski, two corrupt officers from the Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (C.R.A.S.H.) unit of the Los Santos Police Department.
Tenpenny and Pulaski had enlisted two Ballas gang members to carry out the drive-by shooting. Their target was actually Sean "Sweet" Johnson, CJ‘s brother and leader of the Grove Street Families gang. However, Sweet was not home at the time – instead, his mother Beverly was killed.
Motives Behind Beverly‘s Murder
Tenpenny and Pulaski wanted Sweet out of the way so they could profit from the city‘s thriving drug trade and underground criminal networks without interference from the powerful Grove Street gang. With Sweet in prison or dead, they hoped to gain free reign over Los Santos‘ illicit markets.
The Ballas gang members agreed to do Tenpenny and Pulaski’s dirty work in order to weaken their rivals the Grove Street Families. Their attack unexpectedly killed Beverly Johnson instead, but still achieved the desired effect of devastating CJ and Sweet.
The Aftermath – CJ‘s Journey for Revenge and Redemption
After his mother’s murder, CJ moves back to Los Santos from Liberty City to get closure, avenge her death, and help his brother Sweet try to regain control of the streets from the Ballas.
However, Tenpenny and Pulaski force CJ into working for them, blackmailing him to further their own criminal goals around the city and keep him from telling anyone about their involvement in Beverly’s murder.
CJ also discovers several former allies from Grove Street, including Big Smoke and Ryder, have betrayed the gang to work with Tenpenny and the Ballas for money and power. This revelation further fuels CJ’s quest for revenge.
In the game’s climax, CJ finally confronts Eddie Pulaski and kills him, getting justice for his mother’s death. CJ also defeats Tenpenny, who ends up dying in a car crash while trying to flee Los Santos.
With their corrupt tormentors finally eliminated, CJ is able to make peace with Sweet and restore the Grove Street Families to prominence in their neighborhood. His long journey to avenge his mother is finally over, though her death will continue motivating CJ to protect and care for his family in memory of her love.
