On October 26, 1992, a young man named Jeffrey Anderson, age 22, was working at a Subway sandwich shop in Portsmouth, Virginia. His life was abruptly cut short that day in a senseless act of violence. While his wife, Letitia, was out purchasing a wedding band as a surprise for him, a man named Jason Matthew Joseph entered the shop with the intention of robbing it for drug money.
Jeffrey complied with all of Joseph's demands, getting on the ground and opening the cash register. However, when Jeffrey smiled at the robber, Joseph responded by shooting him in the back, a fatal wound that ended his life. Shortly after the shooting, Letitia arrived at the Subway, initially unaware of the tragedy that had just unfolded. She was met with a scene of police officers and news reporters and was informed by an officer that her husband was deceased.
The police were able to apprehend Jason Matthew Joseph shortly after the murder. Throughout the subsequent legal proceedings, which included preliminary hearings, motions, and a jury trial, Joseph maintained his innocence. He reportedly showed no remorse for his actions, at one point callously telling Jeffrey's widow in the courtroom, "S--- happens." Just before being sentenced, Joseph did offer an apology to Letitia, but she believed he was only sorry for being caught. A judge ultimately sentenced Jason Matthew Joseph to death for the murder of Jeffrey Anderson.
