MANASSAS, Va. — A man involved in the robbery of a Denny’s restaurant that resulted in a fatal shooting has been sentenced after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including felony murder. The incident took place in the early hours of December 26, 2019, when Ryan Walker and Jordan Anderson entered a Denny’s restaurant and held employees and customers against their will while attempting to steal money from the cash register. During the robbery, Anderson shot a customer and Walker assaulted a food delivery driver with a baton, causing his death. Anderson was convicted in September 2022 and sentenced in June 2023 to more than 80 years in prison, with a scheduled release date in May 2107. On the other hand, Walker pleaded guilty to several charges, including felony murder, and was sentenced to 17 years in prison, with the possibility of the remaining life sentence if he violates probation. Prince William County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth commented on the outcome, stating that while the guilty pleas spare the victims and their families from the trauma of another trial, they do not lessen the severity of the offenses committed. She expressed the commitment to ensuring accountability for the violent and senseless loss inflicted on the community by the two individuals.
