Quote:A second Republican council member has been shot to death, just about a week after the shooting of Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour.

Russell Heller, 51, who had been a member of the Milford Borough Council since 2020, was found around 7 a.m. on Wednesday, shot to death in the parking lot of the PSE&G in Somerset, where he was employed.

Dwumfour, whose murder has not yet been solved was shot in her SUV about 15 miles away, parked outside her home.

These are not exactly areas known for having people shot to death, much less having politicians gunned down.





Police believe they know who was behind the shooting of Heller. They suspect Heller was shot by Gary Curtis, who was also an employee of the PSE&G. Curtis was found dead in his car, from what is believed to be a self-inflicted wound, a few hours after Heller was found.

Although the two incidents understandably have people wondering what is going on in New Jersey, police are not at this point linking the two crimes and believe them to be unrelated. They do say that in this incident they believe “Heller was the intended target,” but they don’t know what motivated the crime yet.

Heller is on the left, the suspect is on the right in this picture.

Gov. Phil Murphy sent “thoughts and prayers” to Heller’s “family and friends in the wake of this tragic act of gun violence.”

US Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-NJ), whose district includes the area, said he was “shocked and saddened by the tragic murder” of his fellow Republican.

“Russell was an outstanding public servant who proudly represented the river town he loved,” Kean tweeted.

Milford Mayor Henri Schepens told NJ.com that “the Milford Borough Council is deeply saddened by the loss and our hearts go out to his family.”

Heller “was so full of life, it’s just unbelievable that he’s gone,” the mayor said.

“Something like this has never happened in borough history. We are very shaken by this.”

PSE&G said that they were “heartbroken” by Heller’s death. He had been a senior distribution supervisor for them.