the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Franklin Twp NJ, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor, Franklin Township Public Safety Director Quovella M. Maeweather, and Bridgewater Township Chief of Police John B. Mitzak announced an on-going homicide investigation in Franklin Township (Somerset County), New Jersey.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at approximately 7:02 a.m. Franklin Township Police responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls reporting a shooting victim within the parking lot of PSEG, on Weston Canal Road, Somerset, New Jersey. Responding Officers encountered a deceased adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency Medical Personnel from an area Trauma Center responded to the scene where the male was pronounced deceased. Authorities identified the decedent as Russell D. Heller, age 51, Milford, New Jersey. Mr. Heller was actively employed with PSEG at the Somerset facility.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department along with the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations Unit, and investigators from the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. The investigation revealed that a former employee of PSEG, whom authorities identified as Gary T. Curtis, age 58, Washington, New Jersey approached Mr. Heller in the parking lot, shooting him outside of his vehicle.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that at approximately 10:20 a.m. detectives assigned to the investigation were able to track Mr. Curtis to a parking lot area in Bridgewater Township, New Jersey. With the assistance of Bridgewater Township Police Officers, authorities approached the vehicle Mr. Curtis was operating and observed him suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Mr. Curtis was in possession of a firearm. Medical personnel were requested to the scene and Mr. Curtis was pronounced deceased. The investigation remains on-going to determine motive. Preliminary investigation has revealed that the shooting was an isolated incident and Mr. Heller was the intended target.
Reports say he was a senior distribution supervisor who had been with the company for 11 years, and a councilman in Milford, a small borough in Hunterdon County.
“The Milford Borough Council is deeply saddened by the loss and our hearts go out to his family,” Milford Mayor Henri Schepens told digital news content provider NJ.com. “He was so full of life, it’s just unbelievable that he’s gone. Something like this has never happened in borough history. We are very shaken by this.”
Bob Hugin, Chairman of the New Jersey Republican State Committee (“NJGOP”) released the following statement in response to the shooting death of Milford Councilman Russell D. Heller:
“It is with great sadness and shock that we offer our condolences to the family of Milford Councilman Russell Heller — an outstanding public servant and devoted father,” said Hugin.
He continued, “To see the lives of not one but two community leaders cut tragically short within one week is unimaginably distressing. As we mourn these losses, we are particularly praying for justice and answers in the unsolved murder of Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour. May God bless both of their memories.”
Prosecutor McDonald, Chief Fodor, and Director Maeweather request anyone with information relating to the homicide 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. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
Somerset County Prosecutor Note: The following information is based on a preliminary and ongoing investigation, which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records, and analyze forensic evidence. The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office’s understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as additional evidence is collected and analyzed.
The bottle head doll should be demanding police protection right about now.
Police are rounding up all known squirrels…