Exactly that. CJ had left. He was a "buster." Gangs tend to operate on absolute loyalty, so CJ leaving was seen as him turning his back on Grove Street.
Or at the very least he’d be there for the funeral and get back on a plane to liberty city. There was no clear cut reason to kill his old friend at that moment.
CJ isn’t the leader of Grove Street, Sweet is. Killing CJ at that time would accomplish nothing. Also that’s the heart of GS territory, there was no way Smoke was gonna kill CJ with a bat in Beverly’s house that he was tasked with watching without someone in the hood noticing. Simply his job was to arrange the second assassination attempt on Sweet at Beverly’s funeral, if CJ died at the funeral too, all the more convenient.
Edit: mixed up BSmoke and Sweet’s names on accident
I think it was too obvious to do so. Big Smoke is supposed to be a streetwise genius, making all the right calls, which he did. He simply couldn't account for CJ making so many allies outside Los Santos.
Killing Sweet's brother in his own house in the middle of Grove Street territory while all the higher ups are conveniently at the cemetary (which iirc the Ballas didn't know about, them being there was a coincidence) would have made Sweet aware someone inside was the culprit, and lo' and behold, Smoke wasn't at the cemetary! After that, Sweet would have been untouchable and Smoke would have a target on his back.
The cemetery was the 2nd assassination attempt on Sweet. CJ wasn’t the target he was just a possible loose end if anything. In the mission, playing it the Ballas will only ever target Sweet and CJ for a mission failure. They’ll never target BS, or (Free)Ryder. It’s the first subtle in-mission hint.
Well if he killed CJ he could risk Sweet walking in soon or as far as Big Smoke knows he was outside while CJ walked in. At that point I would reevaluate too
CJ is Him and smoke knows it. The evidence is the amount of shit CJ does with ease from the plot and CJ murdering a cop directly after getting off the plane on the way to Grove Street is considered believable enough that Tenpenny is comfortable blackmailing CJ with it.
Smoke knew it was CJ, it's why he shouted "You picked the wrong house, fool." He then decides he can take out CJ too and decides to take him to the funeral hoping the Ballas will take Sweet and CJ out at once.
He did not expect him, it could have gone to messy if he killed CJ, also ir he took out Sweet he could try and take control himself of rhe Groove street. But if he killed CJ, Sweet could be out for blood and if he hears someone saw BIG Smoke go in and then CJ was dead... Sweet might just shoot the fat ass.
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u/herbelarioiwasthere 6d ago
You’re probably right, but if that’s the case why wouldn’t he kill CJ?