Russell Heller, a councilman in Milford, New Jersey, was shot dead in his car.
Heller, 51, was shot outside the PSE&G Somerset Central Division Headquarters in Franklin Township by a disgruntled co-worker on Wednesday morning, according to reports.
The local politician was reportedly a senior distribution supervisor who had been with the company for 11 years.
“The Milford Borough Council is deeply saddened by the loss and our hearts go out to his family,” Milford Mayor Henri Schepens said.
“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.”
Heller’s death comes one week after the killing of Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour.
JUST IN: New Jersey Councilwoman Shot and Killed Near Home
Russell Heller, a councilman in Milford, New Jersey, was shot dead in his car.
The shooting comes one week after the killing of Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, also from New Jersey.
— DailyNoah.com (@DailyNoahNews) February 9, 2023
"Both slain council members were elected Republicans," according to NJ.com.
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
2/REPUBLICAN ASSASSINATIONS🧵
The first GOP councilwoman murdered in her car was Eunice Dwumfour, a rising star in New Jersey's Republican Party. https://t.co/1doSsDdxSi
— @amuse (@amuse) February 9, 2023
NJ.com reported:
Gary T. Curtis, 58, of Washington in Warren County, was identified as the suspect in the shooting and located at 10:20 a.m. in Bridgewater, inside a car, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office said.
Authorities said that Curtis, a former PSE&G employee, shot Heller before fleeing the scene and driving to Bridgewater, where he killed himself.
Officials believe Curtis targeted Heller and are considering the shooting to be an isolated incident. A motive has not been disclosed.
Fox News added:
The killing comes one week after the slaying of Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, who was found dead in her vehicle with multiple gunshot wounds.
No clear motive or suspect has been identified by police in Dwumfour's death.
Police are still searching for a motive for Heller's killing. The utility company has not given any indication about what, if any, working relationship he and Curtis had, according to PIX 11.
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