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.
It is interesting/odd that there is no charge for a hate crime or terrorist act so far. The perp appears to be hedging by saying the church was the target because it was convenient.
If this was a historically black church or a synagogue that excuse would never be accepted. I have a hard time believing they just thought a historic church was just a convenient target. There must be more to the reason they picked that location. Hopefully more appropriate charges will follow.
Good job by the Ridgewood police in catching these two.
The Norrell’s live right around the corner. It was probably just convenients to set up in the cemetary and shoot over.
I thought Norrell’s father was the previous pastor at that church…..
Paul Aronsohn is such a political opportunist. Why was he at the press conference and why did he have to open his mouth?
#4 Absolutely not true. Make things up often?
Was Norrell’s brother the person charged with making up the story that he was robbed on the way home from high school one day?
yes
Norrell’s younger brother also posted the threat to RHS on Twitter. In reflection, that’s kind of scary knowing there were firearms in the home.