We join our colleagues in Milford in offering our most sincere heartfelt condolences to the Heller Family at this unimaginably difficult time for their tragic loss.". One officer was killed and three other officers were hurt in the shooting. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visitSpeakingOfSuicide.com/resourcesfor additional resources. Dozens and dozens of handguns, he is responsible for removing from the street.. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Milford is in the western part of the county. All rights reserved. The shooter or shooters confronted the victims as they were outside and fired multiple rounds within close proximity of the victims, striking all three cousins. "We got a young man who died in my house, and we don't understand what happened.". Authorities have charged two men in the 2020 shooting death of a Salem resident. U.S. news New Jersey council member is fatally shot one week after slaying of another lawmaker Authorities have not made any connections between the slayings of Russell Heller and Eunice. Related: 14-year-old among two killed in North Plainfield apartment complex shooting. Curtis told his family about being fired last year, but did not elaborate on the reasons, Williams said. "He had two jobs, and two weeks ago, he started going back to school.". Phil Murphy, speaking at a news conference tonight, expressed "an immense debt of gratitude" for a police detective killed in today's shooting. New Jersey leaders are mourning the loss of a councilman who was killed in what police said was a targeted workplace shooting on Wednesday. Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). -- A PSE&G employee was shot and killed by a former co-worker in the parking lot of a company building in Somerset County on Wednesday, a short time before the gunman took his own life in a. A suspect accused of shooting two police officers in Newark, New Jersey, Tuesday was still at large following an hours-long search of a building where he was last seen, officials said. Police . Stock photo by Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Photo Credit: Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Cecilia Levine 01/09/2022 7:31 p.m. A medevac was initially called to the scene atAmwell Road & CPL Langon Way around 6:45 p.m., initial and unconfirmed reports say. Arriving officers found three shooting victimsand immediately initiated life-saving measures. Thursdays 4:30 a.m. shooting happened less than half a day after Paterson narcotics detectives made 22 arrests in a crackdown on a short stretch of Hamilton Avenue between Summer and Lake streets. Officer-Involved Shooting Reported In Somerset County (DEVELOPING) One person was shot in an exchange of gunfire with police Sunday evening in Somerset County, developing reports say. Editors note: Robert Williams previously worked for The Star-Ledger, an NJ Advance Media publication. Gary T. Curtis, 58, of Washington Township in Warren County, gunned down Russel Heller, 51, a PSE&G senior distribution supervisor, early Wednesday in Franklin Township, according to the Somerset County Prosecutors Office. Heller's death comes a week after Eunice Dwumfour, a fellow Republican on the Sayreville Borough Council, was found fatally shot in her vehicle near her home. A deadly shooting occurred today during an hours-long standoff between two suspects and law enforcement in Jersey City, New Jersey. Russell Heller, 51, a Republican on the Milford Borough Council, was found dead just after 7 a.m. in the parking lot of PSE&G, the energy company where he worked, the Somerset County Prosecutors Office said. At about6:35 a.m. after several unsuccessful attempts to make contact with the homeowner, police askedfor Somerset County SWAT and Crisis Negotiators because of a possible barricaded person. During Thursdays crackdown, detectives arrested eight suspected dealers and 14 alleged buyers, including out-of-towners from Ridgefield, Union, Garfield, Dumont, Pompton Lakes, River Edge, Rahway and Fair Lawn. TOWN OF CRAWFORD - The Pine Bush High School was in a "lockdown" situation on Wednesday as law enforcement officers from multiple police agencies investigate an "active incident." It happened . After the shooting, PSE&G released a statement saying, Russell was an admired employee and a supervisor with over 11 years of service with PSE&G, it read in part. Earlier today, Jersey City Police Chief Michael Kellyidentified the fallen officer as Det. Seals was part of the Cease Fire Unit, which is a statewide anti-violence program aimed at confiscating illegal weapons and limiting gun crimes through community outreach, according to the units website. Search arrest records and find latests mugshots and bookings for Misdemeanors and Felonies. Scroll through the posts to read more about the shooting in Jersey City. A horse that belongs to a nonprofit organization in New Jersey was found shot to death in Pennsylvania, according to a release by the Pennsylvania State Police on Monday, May 1, 2023. "He was going to school for psychology," friend Elmer Rodriguez said. A terrible cycle:Paterson shooting victim illustrates an ongoing cycle of crime, prison and death, Police presence:Paterson police command center returns to Carroll Street after Sunday shooting, Some officials are suspicious:Paterson DPW supervisors worked 95 straight hours during storm. "We're trying to make sense of it all ourselves," homeowner Phyllis Gadson said. It happened just after 11 p.m. Saturday on Foxwood Drive in Somerset, with the car leaving a gaping hole in the ground floor. Sayegh frequently has said Patersons shootings often are connected to the drug trade plaguing the city. After the arrest, the subject was taken to the police station where he was booked and told he would have to pay a $250 bond. Authorities have not made any connections between the slayings of Russell Heller and Eunice Dwumfour. NEW BRUNSWICK Police are investigating aFriday nightshooting that left a man injured, New Brunswick PoliceDeputy Director Joseph Miller said. Officers from the Trenton Police Department were called to . Instead, "Happy Birthday" balloons mark a growing memorial at the scene. Jimenez was pronounced dead at the scene while Orellana wastaken by ambulance to an undisclosed trauma center where he was pronounced dead, Robertson said. What Gary did was out of character, his cousin Robert Williams told NJ Advance Media, speaking on behalf of his family. Video recorded by a neighbor and. Williams said Curtis family did not know he owned a gun. * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts, Karl Lagerfeld legacy showcased in Met exhibit, Tips for dealing with flood-related losses after the storm, Manhunt enters 3rd day for alleged Texas mass killer. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. He had mentioned Hellers name as his supervisor, Williams said. Gun Violence Archive (GVA) is a not for profit corporation formed in 2013 to provide free online public access to accurate information about gun-related violence in the United States. The U-Haul, which has removed from the scene, may contain an incendiary device, he said. The strip has become the scene of an ongoing turf battle among dealers vying for control of an area where there is a high volume of street-level drug sales, according to law enforcement sources. Alexander Lewis, Home News Tribune and Courier News, New Brunswick police investigate Somerset Street shooting, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. MONTGOMERY An investigation is continuing into an incident at dawn Tuesday morning that prompted the Somerset County SWAT team to respond toan Elm Drive home in Skillman. John Lebed. Multiple 911 calls started coming in just after 7 a.m. Wednesday reported a person had been shot at the PSE&G facility in Franklin Township, the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office said. One of the dead is a police officer, Kelly said. Patrolman Lebed and Patrolman Dunham were honored by having a public park, Dunham-Lebed Park and two public roads, Lebed Drive and Dunham Street, named after them. A New Jersey council member was fatally shot in a parking lot outside his job Wednesday, just one week after another politician in the state was gunned down in her car. Sign up today for a digital subscription. All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential. The police officer who was killed in today's shooting is believed to be the victim of an ambush, according to a law enforcement source. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The proximity in terms of time and place of the drug sweep and the shooting scene underscores the relentless nature of Patersons street crime problem, police said. Zachary T. Rich, the director of the Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners, called the shooting "senseless." The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The mayor was announcing the deployment of a police mobile command center at the scene of a five-victim shooting over the weekend. After the arrest, the subject was taken to the police station where he was . IE 11 is not supported. UPDATE: PSE&G employee shot is 2nd councilperson from N.J. killed within a week. The information and photos presented on this site have been collected from . The investigation has revealed that the motive for the homicide in which Mr. Curtis fatally shot Mr. Heller was due to prior employment disciplinary actions between subordinate and supervisor, the prosecutors office said in a statement. "Russell was an admired employee," it said. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Family and friends believe he was an innocent bystander and not the intended target. Essex 40; Ocean 14; Salem 0; Sussex 0; No claims to the accuracy of this information are made. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533 or via the. Around 10:15 p.m. Sept. 10, a 25-year-old Somerset man sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the abdomen while visiting an acquaintance on Kempton Avenue, police said. Earlier, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop said three officers were injured. On June 16, 2021, at around 12:23 a.m., officers responded to a nearby hospital for a wounded victim that was reportedly shot while on Somerset Street in Franklin Township. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The detectives seized4,176 packets of heroin, 194 bags of crack cocaineand $5,549 in cash, Speziale said. PSE&G said it was cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation into the incident. The prosecutors office on Friday confirmed that the shooting resulted from an ongoing workplace dispute. We believe that he was killed while trying to interdict these bad guys, the police chief said. Data.MyCentralJersey.com: Search millions of NJ, US public records. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ - A Monmouth Junction man has been charged with Animal Cruelty after he tied his dog to the back of his tow truck and drove down Henderson Road, according to a press release. PSE&G declined to comment. To avoid capture, he shot himself in the head, causing a severe wound. The former PSE&G employee who authorities say fatally shot a supervisor in a company parking lot in Somerset County before killing himself had expressed workplace frustrations to his family. 2023 www.northjersey.com. The identification of the suspect is unknown at this time and the investigation was active Tuesday. The two cousins killed have been identified as Steven Jimenez, 14, and Christian Orellana, 31, who lived together in Plainfield, according toSomerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson. New Jersey Gov. Bert Ribiero. Around 10:15 p.m. Sept. 10, a 25-year-old Somerset man sustaineda non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the abdomen while visiting an acquaintance on Kempton Avenue, police said. Thursday's 4:30 a.m. shooting happened less than half a day after Paterson narcotics detectives made 22 arrests in a crackdown on a short stretch of Hamilton Avenue between Summer and Lake streets. The other five people, including the suspects, were found dead in a building, the police chief added. 2023 www.mycentraljersey.com. "Russell was an outstanding public servant who proudly represented the river town he loved. NewsNow brings you the latest news from the world's most trusted sources on the New Jersey Shooting. Six people are dead, including two suspects, following a shooting in Jersey City this afternoon, the city's Police Chief Michael Kelly said. Joseph Seals, a 15-year-veteran of the Jersey City Police Department, was killed in today's shooting, according to the city's Police Chief Michael Kelly. He was a divorced father of three adult children, his family said. Police have yet to identify a potential suspect or motive in her death. He was survived by his wife and daughter. One person was shot in an exchange of gunfire with police Sunday evening in Somerset County, developing reports say. Theyre doing a great job.. When is the last time the overtime you received was more than your salary? "He wanted to be a youth counselor, and I told him he should definitely do it, because he was always guiding people.". Prosecutor: 4th person charged in connected to Easter Sunday killing News 12 New Jersey 17:27 21-Apr-23 N.J. Gripping video shows an irate man with a rifle threatening to kill a female homeowner before a steady-nerved local New Jersey police officer takes him down from a distance with a single shot. It happened on Woodland Avenue in Lawrence Harbor at around 3:09 p.m. Monday. Photo/Video will be published upon admin review and approval. Please enable JavaScript for a better experience. Tributes for Heller poured in in the hours after his death, with Gov. He had no criminal history, according to court records. Mom and Her 9-Year-Old Daughter Killed by Axe in Home, Brother-in-Law Arrested in Maryland People 16:12 21-Apr-23 Bergen Convicted Murderer Sentenced To 55 Years In Prison: Officials Patch 16:07 21-Apr-23 A flag flies at half-staff in front of PSE&G Central Division Distribution Headquarters on Weston Canal Road. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533. The two other officers were injured due to shrapnel, the mayor added. Two other officers who were injured in the shooting have been treated and released from the hospital, Kelly said. Responding officers identified the victim as. He will be sorely missed by all and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.. Crime: New Brunswick police investigate Somerset Street shooting. ABC7 New York 24/7 Eyewitness News Stream, Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts. The investigation is continuing to determine the motive for the shooting and to identify the shooter. Anyonewith information is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office 908-231-7100 or the North Plainfield Police Department at 908-769-2937 or via the STOPit app. The governor went on to say he was "grateful the other officers wounded are currently recovering." PATERSON A 24-year-old man was injured by gunfire in the 4thWard early Thursday morning in the latest violent crime along a two-block stretch of Summer Street where there have been eight shootings in the past six months. Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. Constantly updated. The victim, a New Brunswick resident, was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. ", He added: "Moreimportantly, however, Russell was a loving and caring father to his daughter and a dedicated and loyal friend to all of those who had the pleasure of knowing him. Patrolman John Lebed and Patrolman George Dunham were shot and killed while escorting a man to get bail money. Curtis, who was in possession of a firearm at the time, was pronounced dead shortly after. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. SOMERSET, New Jersey (WABC) -- Police in New Jersey are investigating the death of a 25-year-old man who was found with a fatal gunshot wound following a crash into a residential home. SOMERSET, New Jersey (WABC) -- Police in New Jersey are investigating the death of a 25-year-old man who was found with a fatal gunshot wound following a crash into a residential home. Theres no indication of terrorism in the Jersey City shooting, Department of Public Safety Director James Shea said. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). The victims: A police detective and. JoeMalinconico is editor of Paterson Press. The EEOC does not release workplace complaints to the public. The man, who was not wounded,. The company said Heller had worked as a senior distribution supervisor and had been with the firm for more than 11 years. Largest Database of New Jersey Mugshots. Township police went to the home tocontact with the owner, Robertson said. Police say the other occupants were not injured as a result of the shooting, and they are not being identified. Click here to follow Daily Voice Somerset and receive free news updates. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. The man had been arrested by the officers after they received a tip that he was carrying a concealed weapon and driving with a revoked license. Alexander Lewis is an award-winning reporter and photojournalist whosework spans many topics. Gadson's granddaughter Monica Doster heard the gunshots. A Crips-affiliated street gang that authorities say was selling 50,000 heroin packets and a kilogram of cocaine per week previously controlled drug trafficking on the next block over, Auburn Street, the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office said. Heller, 51, who was also a borough councilman in Milford, is recalled by family and colleagues as a loving father and dedicated public official. Chantal Da Silva is a breaking news editor for NBC News Digital based in London. By SOMERSET COUNTY. "We are heartbroken at the tragic death of Russell Heller," PSE&G said in a statement shared online. Create a free ODMP account now for these benefits: Create an account for more options, or use this form to leave a Reflection now. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The third victim of the shooting, another cousin, has not been identified andremains hospitalized in critical condition, officials said. Our journalism needs your support. Frederick's death came just days before his 26th birthday, which he and his friends had planned to celebrate Tuesday. Sayreville is around 55 miles east of Milford. Rich described Heller as "a dedicated and valuable member of the Milford and Hunterdon County community whose leadership and commitment will be sorely missed. At about 9:20a.m. the homeownervoluntarily came out of the house and was turned over to township police for further investigation. Theyre not stopping, Speziale said. Arriving officers. Somerset County Prosecutor Recognizes National Crime Victims' Rights Week. He was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene. Joseph Seals, a 15-year veteran of the Jersey City Police Department. Were sad for everyone who is involved in this situation.. While on his deathbed, he admitted to the murders of Patrolman Lebed and Patrolman Dunham as well as two previous murders. ", "This was something different," he said, adding that the gunfire "kept going and going and going without a pause.". In announcing Wednesdays drug sweep, Paterson Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale acknowledged the rampant narcotics distribution occurring within the area., The director said the problem occurs at all times of the day and night and has affected area residents by disrupting their quality of life and placing them in fear for their safety., Speziale praised the detectives working for narcotics commander Capt. One of the officers was shot in the shoulder and should recover, Fulop said. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Information also can be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). Phil Murphy writing on Twitter: "Our thoughts and prayers are with Russell Hellers family and friends in the wake of this tragic act of gun violence. One teenager was killed and another was injured in a shooting near a New Jersey school on Sunday night, according to Ronald Taylor, the superintendent of the South Orange & Maplewood School District. Multiple people have died inside a Jersey City building, Mayor Steven Fulop said. Springfield Township Police Department, OH. To obtain the funds, the officers escorted him to his home at 140 Montgomery Street, in New Brunswick, where he then shot and killed both of them. all 15 Reflections, Reflections Terms of Use (revised 5/31/2012), View, edit or delete any Reflection you've left in the past. Relevance is automatically assessed so . Seals was working when he came upon bad guys," Kelly said. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Authorities have not made any connections between the two incidents, with the prosecutor's office saying Heller's death appeared to be an "isolated incident.". The investigation revealed that the assaultoccurred outside the residence and the victim and suspect may have had some sort of altercation prior to the shooting, Miller said. Heller, who was last elected to the Milford Borough council in 2020, was described as a well-liked, very lovable, very funny guy, by fellow councilman James Gallos. Franklin Township (Somerset County) Police Department, New Jersey. A preliminary investigation indicates all three victims were outside on a first-floor patio area of the apartment where one of the victims lives. (Aug. 16), shooting Friday night on an outdoor patio at a borough apartment complex, 14-year-old among two killed in North Plainfield apartment complex shooting, Plainfield shooting leaves one dead, one injured, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Want even more control of your Reflection? The third cousin, a 28-year-old man, was transported by helicopter to an undisclosed trauma center where he underwent emergency surgery for multiple gunshot wounds, Robertson said. The vehicle was occupied with other passengers, but they reportedly left the scene. The man had been arrested by the officers after they received a tip that he was carrying a concealed weapon and driving with a revoked license. He also offered his condolences to the families of three people believed to be civilians who were found dead inside a building. The mayor did not provide further information. What happened: The shooting started about 12:30 p.m. The investigation revealed that after the shooting, Frederick continued to drive his vehicle, eventually crashing into the a minivan in the driveway and then into the home. The man, who was not wounded, then left and called police. Jeff Goldman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. Jackie Roman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, fatally shot a supervisor in a company parking lot in Somerset County before killing himself, recalled by family and colleagues as a loving father. The man said the homeowner, who he knows, answered the front door of the residence, went outside and fired a single shot from a handgun at the man, Robertson said. Bryant Banks, 23, was gunned down at a party around 11 p.m. on Oct. 3 in a home on Pearl Street in Penns Grove.. ET in one part of the city, and ended following a tense standoff with police in another part of town. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The horse . Detectives are still working to establish a motive in the incident, the prosecutor's office said. OLD BRIDGE, New Jersey (WABC) -- One man is dead after a police-involved shooting in Old Bridge, New Jersey. All rights reserved. Highlights of this day in history: Elvis Presley, the King of Rock n' Roll, dies at Graceland; Baseball's Babe Ruth dies in New York; Uganda's Idi Amin dies in Saudi Arabia; 'Sports Illustrated' hits newsstands; Singer Madonna born. All Rights Reserved. Franklin Township (Somerset County) Police Department, NJ. Yesterday Bookings. N.B. The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office did not immediately return Daily Voice's request for comment. Three people were killed and seven injured in the recent shootings on Summer Street. All rights reserved (About Us). The man said the homeowner, who he knows,answered the front door of the residence, went outside and fired a single shot from a handgun at the man, Robertson said. April 25, 2023. Around 8:06 p.m. Aug. 13 Friday, North Plainfield police responded to a 911 call reporting multiple shooting victims at the Malcolm Gardens Apartment Complex on Little Place. "Then I saw the second gunshot go off, and then the car ran into my grandmother's car and then into the house.". Manville Latest Headlines: A Bird's Eye View Of America's National Bird: Duke Farms Eagle Cam; Somerset County Government: Lord Stirling Park To Host 'Discovery Day' For All Ages; Local . Authorities said Friday that Curtis legally owned the handgun used in the killing. We never knew him to be a person who would ever be pushed to a point where he would carry out something that he did (Wednesday). The crisis negotiators were successful in making contact and speaking with the owner, who was home alone. Kelly said the shooting investigation will "take weeks, maybe months.". All rights reserved (About Us). Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. A PSE&G employee was shot and killed by a former co-worker in the parking lot of a company building in Somerset County on Wednesday, a short time before the gunman took his own life in a neighboring town, officials said. Curtis fled and then took his own life hours later in a Bridgewater parking lot, authorities said. Around 8:06 p.m. Aug. 13 Friday, North Plainfield police responded to a 911 call reporting multiple shooting victims at the Malcolm Gardens Apartment Complex on Little Place. Jersey City Councilman Jermaine Robinson told CNN affiliate News 12 New Jersey he was working in his office when he heard the gunshots from today's shooting. Check to see what public employees earned in overtime now on Data.MyCentralJersey.com. Our live coverage has ended for the night. Detectives were able to track Curtis down hours later to a parking lot area in Bridgewater Township, where they found him with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, it said. Heller was found dead outside his job Wednesday, the Somerset County Prosecutors Office said. In fact, the victim in Thursdays incident was shot one previous time at virtually the same location in October, according to law enforcement sources. The SWAT team along with crisis negotiators, Somerset County Communications Mobile Command Center, and Tactical Emergency Medics cameto the home. According to Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald, the shooting took place at around 7 a.m. in the parking lot of PSE&G on Weston Canal Road.