On a Tuesday in Jersey City, what began as a routine investigation for Detective Joseph A. Seals, a 40-year-old male and a veteran of the police force, spiraled into a day of violence that would claim his life and several others. On December 10, 2019, Detective Seals was at the Bayview Cemetery, reportedly investigating a homicide. There, he encountered two individuals, David Anderson, 47, and Francine Graham, 50, in a U-Haul van that was linked to the case.
It was during this encounter that the detective was fatally shot, becoming the first victim in a chain of violent events that would unfold that day.
Following the shooting of Detective Seals, Anderson and Graham fled the cemetery in the stolen van, driving to a kosher supermarket in the Greenville section of Jersey City. Upon arriving, they immediately opened fire on the market, a deliberate act of targeted violence. The ensuing hours saw a prolonged and intense shootout between the suspects and law enforcement officers who had responded to the scene. The gun battle brought the city to a standstill and resulted in a massive police presence.
The violent standoff concluded with the deaths of both Anderson and Graham inside the kosher market. Tragically, three civilians inside the store were also killed during the siege. The subsequent investigation into the shooters revealed a motive rooted in anti-Semitic and anti-law enforcement beliefs. The attack was investigated as an act of domestic terrorism. In the aftermath, it was determined that the actions of the officers who shot and killed Anderson and Graham were justified, and no criminal charges were filed against them. Detective Seals, a married father of five, was remembered as a dedicated officer who was instrumental in removing numerous illegal guns from the streets during his thirteen years with the Jersey City Police Department.
