Charles Bryant Johnson, 20, of East Chicago, and Brandon Steven Burney, 19, of Hammond, have been charged following an exchange of gunfire near an East Chicago grocery store that allegedly sent bullets into an occupied minivan and caused nearby bystanders, including a small child, to scramble for cover.
Police were dispatched around 9:44 p.m. August 31 to the area of Strack & Van Til on Indianapolis Boulevard after gunfire was detected and reports of shots fired were received.
According to court documents, surveillance footage showed Burney entering the grocery store and confronting Johnson near the front of the store. Investigators said Burney was handed a handgun by another man while Johnson was also allegedly armed. The two men continued arguing while holding their weapons before leaving through different exits.
Surveillance footage allegedly showed Johnson and Burney continuing to yell at each other from opposite ends of the parking lot. Investigators said Johnson raised and pointed his handgun in Burney’s direction several times while other people were in the area.
Johnson allegedly began advancing toward Burney before returning toward a white Nissan Rogue. Investigators said Johnson then turned around and ran toward Burney, prompting Burney to run toward an alley behind the businesses.
Johnson eventually returned to the Rogue, which then traveled toward Chicago Avenue through a nearby parking lot. Investigators said surveillance footage showed the Rogue stopping briefly near the alley.
Around the same time, bystanders in the grocery store parking lot were seen suddenly ducking behind a parked vehicle. According to court documents, an adult and small child were later seen taking cover before the adult picked up the child and ran into the grocery store.
Burney allegedly told police Johnson fired multiple shots at him from the area of the white SUV. Burney admitted running toward Chicago Avenue and firing multiple shots from his handgun back toward the Rogue.
During a later recorded interview, Burney allegedly admitted he “retaliated” by shooting toward Johnson’s vehicle. Burney also told investigators he had “incredibly bad vision,” should have been wearing glasses and was not wearing them at the time of the shooting. Investigators estimated the distance from where Burney fired to the entrance of the nearby parking lot at approximately 98 feet.
An occupied Dodge Caravan was traveling east on Chicago Avenue during the exchange of gunfire.
According to court documents, the driver said a white Nissan Rogue pulled onto Chicago Avenue ahead of him. The driver allegedly saw Johnson in the front passenger seat firing from the Rogue as bullets began striking his Caravan. He also reported hearing additional gunfire coming from behind him.
Police documented multiple bullet strikes to the Caravan. One bullet allegedly entered through the rear window, traveled through a rear-seat headrest and then through the driver’s headrest, narrowly missing the driver before exiting through the front windshield. Additional bullets allegedly traveled through the vehicle.
The driver attempted to swerve toward the Rogue during the gunfire but did not make contact. He was not struck by the bullets and was medically cleared with no injuries.
Investigators ultimately alleged that gunfire from both Johnson and Burney struck the occupied Caravan from different directions. Police believe some of Burney’s shots fired toward the Rogue struck the van from behind, while some of Johnson’s shots fired toward Burney struck the van from the front.
Burney was detained shortly after the shooting near 148th Street and Indianapolis Boulevard. Police said a handgun was recovered from his pocket.
Burney allegedly told police that Johnson had been shooting at him and he fired back. During his later interview, Burney admitted going into the grocery store to confront Johnson after being told about an earlier verbal confrontation involving Johnson.
Johnson was taken into custody early the following morning after police located the white Rogue allegedly involved in the shooting. Another handgun was recovered during the investigation.
During a recorded interview, Johnson allegedly admitted that he and Burney were arguing while both were armed and that both men made threats of gun violence toward each other.
Johnson also admitted that after getting into the Rogue, he later saw Burney and both men raised their handguns and began shooting at each other, according to court documents.
When investigators questioned Johnson about whether he fired first, Johnson allegedly responded, “I plead the Fifth,” before claiming he had “blacked out” during the incident after leaving the grocery store.
Charges filed September 2, 2026:
- Criminal Recklessness – Shooting a Firearm Into an Occupied Vehicle — Level 5 Felony
- Criminal Recklessness Committed With a Deadly Weapon — Level 6 Felony
- Criminal Vandalism — Class B Misdemeanor
