Justin Lamont Sharpe, a 27-year-old male, was fatally shot in the early morning hours of August 1, 2015, in downtown South Bend, Indiana. The incident occurred just before 2:30 a.m. at the intersection of LaSalle Avenue and Lafayette Boulevard. Sharpe was in the front passenger seat of a vehicle when another vehicle, a Chevrolet Tahoe, pulled alongside and its driver opened fire. Sharpe was pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver of the vehicle Sharpe was in was also struck by gunfire but survived.
The investigation into the shooting quickly identified a person of interest who was known to the victims. Authorities stated that the motive for the shooting was over something 'miniscule.' On August 18, 2015, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force apprehended Bryant Johnson in Elkhart, Indiana, in connection with the homicide. Johnson was subsequently charged with one count of murder, one count of attempted murder, and one count of battery with a deadly weapon.
Bryant Johnson's case proceeded to trial, where he was found guilty on all charges. In March of 2016, a judge sentenced him to a total of 85 years in prison for the murder of Justin Sharpe and the wounding of the second victim. Family and friends of Sharpe remembered him as a man with big dreams who was full of joy and laughter. The conviction and sentencing of Johnson brought a sense of closure to those who mourned his loss.
