On the late evening of Wednesday, November 20, 1991, 39-year-old Philip C. Council was working as a cashier at a convenience store in Portsmouth, Virginia, when four men entered intending to rob the business. One of the men was armed; he fired once in the direction of another employee but missed. The group ordered Council and another cashier to open the registers. When Council did not comply quickly enough, accomplices beat him. The gunman then shot Council at point-blank range in the chest. The assailants took about $400 from the register and fled. Council died from the gunshot wound.

The shooter was later arrested, indicted on capital murder, robbery and multiple firearms charges, and pleaded guilty as part of a deal with the Commonwealth. The court considered his prior criminal history and the circumstances of the killing, including that it occurred while he was on mandatory parole, and sentenced him to death. No detailed information about the identities or legal outcomes for the other three men has been provided.

If anyone knew Philip Council or has information about the robbery team, please share what you know.