2 men face charges in chaotic Vandergrift bar fight in which 3 people were shot
Vandergrift police have charged two men in connection with a December shooting at Anthony’s Bar on Longfellow Street, in which three people were shot.
John Booker, 35, of Vandergrift and Brydon Williams-Chambers, 23, of Arnold face two counts each of aggravated assault as well as one count each of discharging a gun into an occupied structure and reckless endangerment.
Williams-Chambers is also charged with the prohibited possession of a firearm.
The third man who suffered gunshot wounds is not accused of any crime.
The shooting was reported to police shortly after midnight on Dec. 15.
Police said they later reviewed surveillance footage showing some or all of the lead-up to the triple shooting.
According to a criminal complaint, the relevant footage begins with Booker approaching Williams-Chambers and the third man as they stood near the bar.
Spotting Booker’s approach, Williams-Chambers took a semi-automatic handgun from his sweatshirt pocket and tucked it into the waistband of his pants, police said.
Booker then punched the third man in the face before moving toward Williams-Chambers, who retreated, drew his gun and pointed it at Booker, the complaint states.
Williams-Chambers then charged at Booker and pistol whipped him in the back of the head, police said.
Police said a struggle ensued where the gun fired, sending a bullet through the left half of Booker’s chest and into Williams-Chambers’ left arm, causing him to drop the weapon.
Booker grabbed the gun as bystanders tried to intervene, according to police, before shooting Williams-Chambers twice in the left buttocks.
Police said Booker subsequently turned toward the third man and shot him in the upper left leg before fleeing the bar.
Officers said they took over life-saving measures from bar patrons until medics arrived.
Williams-Chambers and the third man were taken to Forbes Hospital in Monroeville.
Booker went to Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison in a personal vehicle and was later transported to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh’s North Side.
Booker and Williams-Chambers are awaiting preliminary hearings.
An attorney was not listed for either of man in court documents.
Jack Troy is a TribLive reporter covering the Freeport Area and Kiski Area school districts and their communities. He also reports on Penn Hills municipal affairs. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in January 2024 after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh. He can be reached at jtroy@triblive.com.
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.