On the night of February 26, 2018, Alfanso Anderson, a 48-year-old Black male, was found shot to death in Room 12 of the Sunnyside Inn on Lake Street in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Police had responded to a report of shots fired at the motel at approximately 11:30 p.m. Upon arrival, they discovered Anderson, who had sustained at least one gunshot wound; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Anderson, a resident of Ezra Street in Bridgeport, was a hardworking family man and a maintenance worker who had come to the United States from Jamaica two decades prior in pursuit of the American dream. His wife, Benita, described him as a man who never got into trouble.
The investigation into Anderson's death, which was the city's fourth homicide of the year, soon revealed it was a tragic case of mistaken identity. Detectives determined that the intended target was another man who allegedly owed a debt to a prostitute. It is believed that the assailants were given the wrong room number and that Anderson had no connection to them or any illegal activities. Police officials stated that Anderson was an innocent victim. Surveillance footage from the motel captured images of potential suspects, including three men and a woman, who were seen walking toward the hotel before the shooting and fleeing afterward.
In February 2019, police made two arrests in connection with the murder. Glenn Pettway, 25, and Donnell Williams, 28, were both charged for their alleged roles in Anderson's death. Pettway faced charges including murder, felony murder, and attempted robbery, while Williams was charged with murder. Investigators believe Pettway was attempting to collect the debt owed to the prostitute and mistakenly identified Anderson as the man who owed money.
The legal proceedings took different turns for the two suspects. While out on bond for Anderson's murder, Glenn Pettway was accused of killing his girlfriend. He later killed himself during a standoff with police in Tennessee. In January 2024, Donnell Williams pleaded guilty to reduced charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree robbery, criminal possession of a firearm, and being a persistent felony offender. In March 2024, he was sentenced to 17 years in prison for his involvement in the killing of Alfanso Anderson. During the sentencing, it was noted that evidence suggested Pettway was the one who actually shot Anderson.
