POLICE photo Alex Norell, 22, of Ridgewood
Police arrest two men in connection with Ridgewood church shooting
JANUARY 13, 2015, 3:35 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2015, 8:20 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS AND ABBOTT KOLOFF
STAFF WRITERS |
THE RECORD
RIDGEWOOD — Two cousins, one of them a member of the United States Marine Corps, were accused by authorities on Tuesday of firing bullets into an empty church two times late last year, incidents that police said left the community on edge and led to stepped up patrols.
Joseph Galli, 21, of Somerville and Alex Norrell, 22, of Ridgewood both have been arrested on charges related to firing more than 40 rounds of ammunition into the Old Paramus Church on East Glen Avenue on Nov. 16 and Dec. 26, authorities said during a news conference to announce the arrests. Authorities said they believe that the men used the church as a target only because it is convenient and isolated from other buildings.
Galli, a Marine stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, allegedly did the shooting on both occasions, according to Chief John Ward of the Ridgewood police. He was arrested in North Carolina on Monday and is expected to be extradited to Bergen County, authorities said.