I-55 Shooting Of Anthony's Bouncer: Joliet Man Sent To Prison

JOLIET, IL — Bryson Carter, the middle of the night getaway driver in the December 2020 Interstate 55 shooting of a bouncer at Anthony's Pub and Restaurant, is now serving his 12-year sentence at the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty in March.

Carter, who lived on Joliet's Iowa Avenue, pleaded guilty last month to the crime of aggravated battery. Prior to his plea bargain, Carter was charged with aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a gun.

Carter was represented by private counsel, downtown Joliet criminal defense attorney Chuck Bretz.

According to his plea agreement, Carter "was accountable for the actions of another individual who struck and caused great bodily harm to the victim."

Last week, Carter was admitted into the Stateville Correctional Center. He has a projected parole release date of June 23, 2026. At the time of Carter's 12-year sentence, Will County Judge Vincent Cornelius gave Carter credit for 808 days of time already served in Will County's Jail.

Carter had been in the Will County Jail since Illinois State Police arrested him on Dec. 16, 2020. He's now 28 years old.

At 2:35 a.m. on Dec. 13, 2020, Illinois State Police learned of the shooting along Interstate 55 in the southbound lanes of Joliet. The shooting victim called 911. He was shot in his left arm and suffered a gunshot wound to his back.

At St. Joe's hospital, the victim from Minooka told police he worked at Anthony's Pub as a bouncer. According to court records, that Saturday night, two men were thrown out of the bar after fighting with the bouncers. When the bar closed, the bouncer returned to his pickup truck and left the parking lot.

Once he got on the road, he noticed a car parked across the street that began to follow him. The bouncer described the car as light, perhaps silver, with LED headlights.

The car followed his truck along Voyager Lane, to Route 30 and then southbound along I-55, remaining at a distance. At one point, the bouncer slowed his truck, hoping the silver car would pass him on I-55. Instead, the car pulled right along next to him and someone opened fire, striking him twice.

The silver car got off at the Route 52 exit, turning left toward West Jefferson Street in Joliet.

Joliet Patch has previously reported that Carter implicated two others in connection with the bouncer's shooting, court records show. However, Carter has been the only person charged in connection with the crime.

"No one else was ever charged," Bretz informed Joliet Patch on Monday.

Related Patch coverage:

Anthony's Bouncer Shot On I-55 By Ejected Customers: Forfeiture

I-55 Shooting At Black Road: Joliet Man, 26, Charged