PSE&G issued the following statement on the shooting: We are heartbroken at the tragic death of Russell Heller, senior distribution supervisor at PSE&G. Russell was an admired employee and a supervisor with over 11 years of service with PSE&G. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Somerset County Prosecutors Office at (908) 231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533. Authorities have revealed new details in the shooting. Charges already filed against the alleged gunman were upgraded Wednesday to include murder, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutors Office. The family is struggling to deal with his death, but is focused on seeing that justice is served, Guzman said. Russell was an admired employee and a supervisor with over 11 years of service with PSE&G. This was the second councilperson to die by gun violence within a week in the Garden State. Curtis was tracked to a parking lot area in Bridgewater Township where he was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was a really hard worker. WebFranklin police were dispatched about 10:33 p.m. Saturday to the Fuller Street and Franklin Boulevard on a report of a person wounded when gunshots were fired in the area. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. We are very shaken by this. "We are heartbroken at the tragic death of Russell Heller, senior distribution supervisor at PSE&G," the company wrote, describing Heller as "an admired employee" of more than 11 years. Phil Murphy tweeted. A borough councilperson was fatally shot in New Jersey this week, marking thesecond attack in seven days where an act of gun violence resulted in the death of a local elected official in the state. Heller was the intended target, McDonald said, and authorities are still trying to determine a motive. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. According to investigators, Heller was fatally shot by a former employee, Gary Curtis, 58, of Washington, N.J. Officials say Curtis walked up to Heller in the parking lot and shot him. 'We can't rest in peace': Franklin man's 2014 antifreeze-poisoning death remains a mystery. The prosecutor's office in Somerset County said in a statement Thursday morning that the deadly shooting was not politically motivated, CBS New York reported. "There simply are no words for the tragedy that took place yesterday as our well-loved, kind, hardworking councilman was killed as he arrived at work. The victim, a New Brunswick resident, was located in the area of Hamilton Street and Matilda Avenue by an unidentified individual and transported to a nearby hospital where he underwent emergency surgery, Robertson said. All rights reserved, Rejected Line-Skipper, Daughters Seen on Video Pummeling NYC Supermarket Cashier, Next Winter Storm May Bring Even More Snow to NYC Area This Week: What to Know, Eunice Dwumfour, 30, was found in her SUV outside a Sayreville apartment complex, No clear motive or suspect has yet been identified, This 26-Year-Old Pays $0 to Live in a Luxury Tiny Home' She Built for $35,000 in Her Backyard Take a Look Inside. Our hearts are broken but his will beat on, a relative wrote on Facebook. Our thoughts and prayers are with Russell Heller's family and friends in the wake of this tragic act of gun violence," wrote New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy in a tweet on Wednesday. The incident happened on Weston Canal Road around 7 a.m. Wednesday morning. Something like this has never happened in borough history. Anyone who knew Russ found him to be a joy to be around We surround you with our love and prayers," the merchants association posted. Fox News' Lawrence Richard contributed to this report. The investigation has revealed that the shooting of Mr. Heller was not politically connected with his elected office or political affiliation. (Fox News). Don't miss local and statewide announcements. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, N.J. - A deadly shooting took place Wednesday morning outside the PSE&G Central Division in Franklin Township. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Somerset County Prosecutors Office at (908) 231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533. No clear motive or suspect has been identified by police in Dwumfour's death. A 911 call reported gunshots being fired around Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Walter J. Gilliano, 25, of Franklinville, allegedly shot Chad Stuart, 31, of Clayton. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Russell Heller's family and friends in the wake of this tragic act of gun violence," New Jersey Gov. (Somerset County Prosecutor's Office). Early this morning, a deadly shooting took place outside of a PSE&G facility in Franklin Township.Our thoughts and prayers are with Russell Heller's family and friends in the wake of this tragic act of gun violence. Something like this has never happened in borough history. Curtis was reportedly a former PSE&G employee who allegedly shot Heller before taking off and driving to Bridgewater, where he killed himself. We are very shaken by this. The New Jersey Attorney Generals Office said it is investigating after a local police officer reportedly shot a person Monday afternoon in Atlantic County. In addition to these jobs, he was also a basketball coach, Guzman noted. PEDRICKTOWN, New Jersey (WPVI) -- A shooting at a rest stop on the New Jersey Turnpike has prompted an investigation by the state attorney general's office. MyCentralJersey.com seeks public records in Sayreville councilwoman's killing, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. P.O. - The mother of a man shot outside a local bar said her family has been changed forever by his death. Responding officers identified the victim as Russell Heller, 51, of Milford, N.J. Heller worked for PSE&G at the Somerset compound. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) Authorities are investigating into a shooting that may have occurred in the area of Hamilton Street on Monday night in Franklin Township, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Detectives were able to track down the suspects Mercedes-Benz parked a few miles away at the Bridgewater train station, where it was discovered that the shooter had taken his own life, police said. "The investigation has revealed that the shooting of Mr. Heller was not politically connected with his elected office or political affiliation.". Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Authorities say the murder was not politically motivated. Born and raised in Northwest NJ, Jay has a degree in Communications and has had a life-long interest in local radio and various styles of music. We are very shaken by this.". WebGet breaking Hunterdon County NJ local news, weather, events, sports and more from Flemington, Clinton, Lambertville, Lebanon, Raritan and others. FRANKLIN (Somerset) A PSE&G employee, who was also a Republican borough councilman in the Hunterdon County community of Milford, was fatally shot Wednesday morning in the parking lot of the utilitys facility on Weston Canal Road. WebA Gloucester County man has been indicted for allegedly shooting a neighbor dead during a dispute over a loose dog, authorities said.Zachary A. Lahneman, 27, of Turnersville, is accused of killing Victor Marrero, Jr., 39, in the Birches apartments' parking lot on Nov. 16, 2022, according to the Glo GLOUCESTER COUNTY, NJ 3 HOURS AGO 4 Comment Officials have not released any details about the victim, but CBS2 has learned no one else at the facility was in danger. Police called to the scene found 51-year-old Senior Distribution Supervisor Russell Heller dead from a gunshot wound in the parking lot outside the facility. For now, what is still unclear is what motivated the shooting. Police suspect it was a gang Kyle Mazza / AP. Chad was really funny, she said Wednesday. Russell Heller, a 51-year-old senior distribution supervisor at the company who also served on the borough council for Milford Township in Hunterdon County, had just gotten out of his car when he was shot and killed by a former employee in the parking lot, according to investigators. WebMultiple 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 WebThe mission of the Franklin Township Police Department is to protect and enhance the quality of life via a Community Policing Operational Philosophy, through a partnership with the community, and to promote a safe and secure environment, free from crime and the fear of crime, for all who live, work or visit our community. or redistributed. Curtis was tracked to a parking lot in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey, within an hour of the shooting, according to police. New Jersey Congressman Tom Kean said he was "shocked and saddened by the tragic murder" of Heller. Heller's death comes one week after the fatal shooting of Eunice Dwumfour, a Republican Councilwoman for Sayreville borough in Middlesex County. Sources tell CBS2 this was a homicide and one man is dead. New Jersey Rep. Tom Kean, whose district includes parts of Somerset County, where Franklin township is located, praised Heller in another message shared onTwitter after his death. A rising star for local Republicans who won an upset victory for her council seat in Sayreville in 2021 and an IT professional by trade, Dwumfour recently finished her first term on the Sayreville Borough Council. Heller was a council member in the township of Milford, near the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Officers located a Glock 19 handgun at the shooting scene and a spent .9mm bullet casing near Gillianos vehicle, police said. Your email address will not be published. Anyone with information relating to this shooting 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 STOPit app. https://t.co/KITkU4G4aS. Everybody knew that if we asked where Chad was, he was probably either at the Lake House serving or working as an apprentice electrician.. This event is tragic and disturbing and we are offering support to our employees as they process this. All rights reserved. The suspect in the Russell Heller murder-suicide is 58-year-old Gary Curtis, seen here in a previous booking photo. The prosecutor's office believes it was a homicide. A Somerset man said he was driving north on Phillips Road toward Baier Avenue when he heard multiple "pops," which he initially thought were fireworks, according to Robertson. Police are still searching for a motive for Heller's killing. Authorities responded to calls that a person had been shot at the PSE&G facility in Franklin Township just after 7 a.m. Wednesday. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. A man shot in the head early Saturday outside of a closed bar in Gloucester County has died of his injuries, authorities confirmed Wednesday. There was heavy police presence following the shootings at Tunnel Way; Linden Street; Benwood Avenue near Updated: Feb 27, 2023 / 02:59 PM PST. Russell D. Heller, 51, of Milford, was approached outside his vehicle in the PSE&G parking lot at about 7 a.m., by former PSE&G employee Gary T. Curtis, 58, of Washington, Warren County, who then shot him, Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald said. The vehicle crashed on Burnham Road causing damage to a property and a utility pole. WebGov. He was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel, according to the police department. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Sayreville councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour was shot and killed on Feb. 1 while sitting inside her SUV outside her home, police said. Copyright 2023 WABC-TV. He will be truly missed," the fire company posted on Facebook. NORTHAMPTON TWP., Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Police responded to a shooting at an estate in Northampton Township, Bucks County. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Were all really, really hurt and trying to process it. And, according to the Somerset County Prosecutors Office, the suspected gunman was later found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a parking lot in Bridgewater. Connecticut man killed in violent attack in West Bank, NYPD asks shop owners for help in crime fighting efforts, At least 29 dead, 85 injured after trains collide in Greece: officials. "The investigation has revealed that the shooting was an isolated incident and Mr. Heller was the intended target," the prosecutor's office said. Investigators determined that a former PSE&G employee -- identified as Gary Curtis, 58, of Washington, New Jersey -- allegedly approached Heller in the parking lot and shot him while he was outside his vehicle, police said. Gilliano then called 911 and reported that he had just shot someone in the head and was in the process of performing life saving measures (CPR), police stated in the affidavit. The incident comes one week after the separate, fatal shooting of another New Jersey council member. Download here. Morris County releases 2022 development activity report, American Red Cross honors New Jersey heroes during Red Cross Month celebration in March, Senate advances bill that permits stalking victims to obtain restraining order against strangers, Use of force justified in non-fatal police shooting in Washington Twp, Warren County, Morris County man accused of threatening to shoot his ex and kill her entire family, Driver stopped at green light lead to DWI charge, No injuries reported after garage fire in Warren County, 3 injured after crash involving 2 tractor-trailers, pickup truck on I-80 in Morris County, Russell Stover Chocolates issues allergy alert on undeclared pecan in sugar free peanut butter cups, Menendez, Booker join colleagues and 9/11 advocates to announce bipartisan bill to close the funding gap in the WTC Health Program. Local New Jersey council member Russell Heller was shot dead in his car, exactly one week after the slaying of Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour. While conducting theirinvestigation, detectives were notified of a second victim, an Edison man who went to a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound. WebRoy Jackel Jr., 42, of Cape May Court House: A Franklin Township, Gloucester County, police officer shot Jackel on April 5, 2021, in Buena Vista after he ran toward police with Watch more local news on CBS News New York: https://cbsn.ws/3Uycq1M. "Investigators have confirmed that Mr. Heller was a Republican Councilman for Milford Borough (Hunterdon County)," the statement read, according to CBS New York. 207. ", The statement went on to call the incident "tragic and disturbing, and we are offering support to our employees as they process this. The victim, 51-year-old Russell Heller, had worked with PSE&G for the last 11 years as a supervisor. FRANKLINVILLE, N.J. - A man is dead and two people are injured after a car crashed and flipped on its side early Sunday morning in Gloucester County. WebA borough councilperson was fatally shot in New Jersey this week, marking the second attack in seven days where an act of gun violence resulted in the death of a local elected / CBS News. Heller was a Milford Borough councilman and PSE&G supervisor for the past 11 years. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) Authorities are investigating into a shooting that may have occurred in the area of Hamilton Street on Monday night in Franklin Township, according to Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson. ALSO READ | Crime increasing in area of East NY officer-involved shooting, * Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts. A handgun revolver recovered from the scene was legally registered to Curtis, according to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. Updated on: February 10, 2023 / 8:37 PM Curtis, a former employee at PSE&G, was found dead several hours later from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said. 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