A fatal shooting Wednesday morning that took the life of New Jersey council member Russell Heller was not found to be politically motivated, according to authorities.
“Investigators from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office in conjunction with the Franklin Township Police continue to investigate the circumstances leading to the shooting death of Mr. Russell Heller yesterday in Franklin Township,” said the Deputy Chief of the County Attorney’s Office. Somerset County Attorney Frank Roman Jr. told Fox News Digital in an emailed statement.
“Investigators have confirmed that Mr. Heller was a Republican Milford Borough Councilor (Hunterdon County),” Roman said. “The investigation has revealed that the shooting of Mr. Heller was not politically related to his elected office or political affiliation.”
Somerset County Attorney John P. McDonald had previously announced that Heller, 51, had died in his car at the Franklin Township PSE&G facility, where he worked, just after 7 a.m. ET. Police responded to several 911 calls reporting a shooting victim in the Somerset parking lot on Weston Canal Road. Heller was dead when officers arrived on the scene.
NJ COUNCILMAN RUSSELL HELLER KILLED IN MURDER-SUICIDE AT PSE&G FACILITY
PSE&G Somerset Central Division headquarters at 472 Weston Canal Road. (Google Maps)
An investigation revealed that a former company employee, Gary T. Curtis, 58, had approached Heller in the parking lot and shot him out of his vehicle.
Detectives were able to track Curtis, from Washington, New Jersey, to a parking area in Bridgewater Township. Curtis was found to be suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and in possession of a firearm. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
NEW JERSEY COUNCIL WOMAN EUNICE DWUMFOUR SHOT OUTSIDE HER HOME IN ‘DESPRIMABLE CRIMINAL ACT’
New Jersey local council member Russell Heller, 51, was shot to death in his car, exactly one week after the murder of Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour. (Facebook/Russ Heller)
The incident occurred exactly one week after the murder of Sayreville councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, 30, who was found dead in her vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds.
Both Heller and Dwumfour were Republicans, according to reports.
Although Heller was the intended target, authorities are still trying to determine a motive for the shooting. Police have said it was an isolated incident.
Sayreville councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour has reportedly been killed following a shooting outside her apartment. (Sayreville City Council)
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Heller was a senior distribution supervisor who had been with the company for 11 years and was a councilor in Milford.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic death of Russell Heller, a senior distribution supervisor at PSE&G. Russell was an admired employee and supervisor with over 11 years of service at PSE&G. He will be deeply missed by all and our thoughts are with his family at this time. difficult,” PSE&G said in a statement shared by My Central Jersey.
Fox News has reached out to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office for further comment.
Pilar Arias and Lawrence Richard of Fox News contributed to this report.
