A New Jersey councilman was shot and killed inside his car on Wednesday, one week after the murder of Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, who died the exact same way. According to the New York Post, the shooting took place in the early hours on Wednesday outside PSE&G Central Division in Franklin Township, where 51-year-old Russell Heller was gunned down in a parking lot.
From what authorities have gathered, they believe Heller was killed by a former employee named Gary Curtis of Washington. It’s unclear what transpired to the suspect in wanting to kill Heller as the investigation remains ongoing, but what has been confirmed so far is that Curtis was later tracked down by police and found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Bridgewater Township. He was pronounced dead shortly after.
BREAKING: Another New Jersey Republican council member Russell Heller (left) shot dead in his car, exactly one week after the slaying of Republican Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour. The suspect (right) then killed himself. What is happening in New Jersey? pic.twitter.com/0X11kvkvp1
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) February 9, 2023
A second New Jersey Councilman, 51-year-old Milford Russell Heller, has been found dead.
The killing comes exactly one week after New Jersey GOP Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour was fatally shot in her SUV outside her home.
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) February 9, 2023
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What’s particularly puzzling about Heller’s death is that it happened a week after councilwoman Dwumfour, a fellow Republican was shot and killed in her vehicle outside of her home. Since her passing, police have struggled to accumulate enough evidence to name a potential suspect, though the murder case remains active and open.
While it could very well just have been a coincidence that Heller died a week after Dwumfour, some people on social media aren’t buying it and are convinced that their deaths may be connected. Of course, authorities have not given any indication that the murder cases are associated with one another as of yet, so we can regard the opinions from social media as simply a rumor.
A statement via CBS News was issued by the prosecutor’s office in Somerset County on Thursday, where they shared, “Investigators have confirmed that Mr. Heller was a Republican Councilman for Milford Borough (Hunterdon County).
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. https://t.co/KITkU4G4aS
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) February 8, 2023
Milford is remembering 51-year-old Councilman Russell Heller, who was shot & killed by a former coworker at PSE&G. He’s the second NJ council member gunned down within a week. We’re going to have more on Heller’s life & legacy at 4:30 and 6 on @69News pic.twitter.com/f0mn1L4Dsx
— Priscilla Liguori (@PriscillaWFMZ) February 9, 2023
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“The investigation has revealed that the shooting of Mr. Heller was not politically connected with his elected office or political affiliation.”
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy also shared some words on the tragic death of Heller in a tweet that read, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Russell Heller’s family and friends in the wake of this tragic act of gun violence.”