In the early morning hours of August 4, 2018, the life of 33-year-old Rodney J. Anderson, a Black male from Portsmouth, Virginia, was tragically cut short. Anderson was in the parking lot of a shopping center on Victory Boulevard when he was shot. Despite his injuries, he was able to drive himself to Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries and died at the hospital.
The Portsmouth Police Department immediately launched an investigation into the shooting.
For several weeks, no suspect or motive was publicly identified. However, through their investigation, detectives were able to identify 32-year-old Jermel M. Roscoe of Chesapeake as the primary suspect in Anderson's death. On August 28, 2018, with the assistance of the Virginia Beach Police Fugitive Unit and SWAT, Roscoe was arrested. The arrest brought a sense of hope for justice to Anderson's grieving family and friends. The day of the arrest would have been Anderson's 34th birthday.
Following his arrest, Jermel M. Roscoe was charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was held at the Portsmouth City Jail. In the ensuing legal process, the charges against Roscoe were certified to a grand jury. Ultimately, Roscoe pleaded guilty to the charges related to the fatal shooting of Rodney J. Anderson and was sentenced to seven years in prison.
