The Day of the Attack

December 10, 2019, began like any other day in Jersey City, New Jersey. But by the afternoon, the tranquil facade of the Greenville neighborhood would be shattered by a violent and deadly attack. At approximately 12:20 p.m., chaos erupted at the JC Kosher Supermarket on Martin Luther King Drive. The serene streets became a battleground when David N. Anderson and Francine Graham launched a brutal assault, leaving three innocent people dead and wounding several others, including police officers. The siege would last until police fatally subdued the attackers around 3:45 p.m.

Prelude to Tragedy

The sequence of terror began not at the supermarket, but earlier that day at Bayview Cemetery. Detective Joseph Seals, a seasoned officer with the Jersey City Police Department, encountered Anderson and Graham by chance. The pair were inside a stolen U-Haul van, a vehicle that linked them to a murder just three days prior. This encounter proved fatal for Detective Seals, who was shot dead by the suspects. His body, discovered by a passerby, was reported at 12:38 p.m.

Following the murder of Detective Seals, Anderson and Graham sped away in their van, heading toward the JC Kosher Supermarket, a mere mile from the cemetery. They arrived and swiftly exited their vehicle, carrying an AR-15-style rifle and a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun. Without hesitation, they stormed into the grocery store, ignoring passersby on the street, and directed their aggression solely at the shop's interior.

The Assault

Inside the supermarket, the attackers immediately opened fire, killing 33-year-old store owner Mindy Ferencz, 49-year-old employee Douglas Miguel Rodriguez, and 24-year-old rabbinical student Moshe Deutsch. Rodriguez was reportedly shot while holding the back door open, allowing others to escape. In the ensuing chaos, two other customers managed to flee the scene.

A grueling three-hour gunfight followed between the assailants and law enforcement. The shootout ended when a BearCat armored vehicle crashed through the storefront, effectively terminating the siege. The aftermath revealed hundreds of shell casings strewn across the site, testifying to the intensity of the firefight.

A Chilling Discovery

The aftermath of the attack revealed chilling details. The van used by Anderson and Graham contained a live pipe bomb, capable of causing significant destruction within a 500-yard radius. Further inspection uncovered homemade ballistic panels constructed from bulletproof vest materials, a .22-caliber Ruger Mark IV handgun with a homemade silencer, and a device to catch shell casings. These findings indicated a level of premeditation and preparation that suggested an even broader scope of intended violence.

Law Enforcement Response

The attack drew an overwhelming response from multiple law enforcement agencies. The Jersey City Police Department, along with the Hudson County Sheriff's Office, New Jersey State Police, and federal agencies such as the FBI and ATF, swiftly converged on the scene. Nearby police departments and sheriffs from three counties lent their support in managing the crisis and securing the area.

The Assailants

The identities of the attackers were revealed the day after the incident. David Nathaniel Anderson, aged 47, and his 50-year-old girlfriend, Francine Graham, were known to law enforcement as suspects in the murder of Uber driver Michael Rumberger, whose blood was found on a Bible linked to them. Further DNA evidence tied them to the murder weapon and clothing worn during the crime. Rumberger, whose family confirmed he was not Jewish, was found dead in Bayonne on December 7, 2019.

The Motive

The motivations behind Anderson and Graham's actions were rooted in a toxic blend of antisemitism and anti-law enforcement sentiment. Anderson, self-identified as a Black Hebrew Israelite, frequently posted hateful messages online targeting Jewish people and police officers. His rhetoric, steeped in conspiracies, painted Jews as imposters and law enforcement as oppressors.

Investigations into their activities revealed prior planning and reconnaissance of potential targets. They even scoped out the JC Kosher Supermarket and researched a Jewish community center in Bayonne as a possible target. Authorities later concluded that the attack had been in the works for months, with evidence suggesting a larger scale of intended violence.

The Aftermath

In the wake of the attack, the community and the nation grappled with the implications of such a hate-fueled act. Jersey City Medical Center and several local schools went into lockdown, and public transit services were suspended. President Donald Trump and other officials, including New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, expressed their condolences to the victims' families and praised the bravery of Detective Seals.

The attack was widely condemned as an antisemitic hate crime and an act of domestic terrorism. Mayor Steven Fulop and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio were among those who quickly labeled the attack as such. In January 2020, further evidence was presented that underscored the attackers' broader plans to target the Jewish community and law enforcement.

Reflection and Memorial

In the months following the tragedy, the JC Kosher Supermarket reopened at a new location in March 2020, symbolizing resilience in the face of hatred. In October 2020, a pawn shop dealer linked to Anderson through a phone number found in his pocket pleaded guilty to the charge of being a felon in possession of a weapon. By November 2020, a grand jury found that the actions of the officers involved in the shootout were justified.

To honor Detective Joseph A. Seals, a memorial bench was erected in 2022 at 16th Street Park in Bayonne, a lasting tribute to his sacrifice and dedication.

The 2019 Jersey City shooting remains a stark reminder of the dangers of hatred and the enduring strength of community in the face of adversity.