He was no longer considered a member of Grove Street, and would later have to earn his way back into the gang.

The cause of his death was never revealed, though it is implied Carl was present but did not help him, as Sweet laments that Carl 'let Brian die'.

Carl's younger brother Brian died in 1987. The Grove Street Families went into a decline at some point between 19. It's likely that Officer Eddie Pulaski was also serving with Tenpenny at this time. Sweet became the leader of the Grove Street Families and introduced him, CJ, and possibly Brian into the gang life.Īround 1985, the Grove Street Families were at the height of their power when they first became pressured by Frank Tenpenny, a corrupt police officer of C.R.A.S.H. CJ recalls Ryder dealing drugs since he was ten. The Johnson siblings, along with Melvin 'Big Smoke' Harris and Lance 'Ryder' Wilson, grew up on the same cul-de-sac and were childhood friends. This also explains his fear for swimming. Carl says to Woozie in Amphibious Assault that, when he was swimming as a child, he once got a condom stuck on his face, and that 'horror like that stays with you for life'. Old Reece, a family friend and Ganton's local Barber, recalls memories of Carl's father, although Carl tells Joey Leone that he never knew his father, and that Sweet was the 'man' of the house but made his life miserable. Sweet states that Carl was born in the Johnson House, the family's childhood and current home. Beverly had four children: Sean, Carl, Kendl, and Brian. He has a father, but as seen in the intro movie, he said he didn't know him. Carl is the son of Beverly Johnson, the younger brother of Sweet, and the older brother of Kendl and Brian.Ĭarl 'CJ' Johnson was born in Los Santos to Beverly Johnson. While exiled, however, he makes numerous new friends and allies, becomes successful and wealthy through businesses and assets in both San Fierro and Las Venturas, and eventually returns to Los Santos to reunite with his family, exact revenge on those who wronged him, and reclaim the city for Grove Street. From there, he works to earn back the trust of his friends and family, restore Grove Street back to power, and learn the mysterious circumstances of his mother's death, only to later be betrayed by his friends and forced to flee Los Santos once again. Having left his friends and family behind and moved to Liberty City for five years after the death of his younger brother Brian, CJ eventually returns home after learning about the murder of his mother. Carl 'CJ' Johnson is a character in the Grand Theft Auto series, appearing as the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.ĬJ is the second-in-command of the Los Santos-based street gang, the Grove Street Families, which is led by his older brother, Sean 'Sweet' Johnson, and includes his childhood friends Lance 'Ryder' Wilson and Melvin 'Big Smoke' Harris.

Gta san andreas racing