Just one week after another councilperson was killed, a Republican councilman in Milford, New Jersey, was fatally shot on Wednesday. Fifty-one-year-old PSE&G worker, Russell D. Heller, was allegedly killed by an ex-employee in Somerset, according to a Thursday report by Patch.com.
Reportedly, the shooting was said to be unrelated, to any political connection to Heller’s elected office, or political affiliations. Heller was at his workplace when a former employee, identified as 58-year-old Gary T. Curtis, reportedly fatally shot him in the parking lot. This was according to law enforcement. Authorities are still investigating the case.
The Director of Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners, Zachary T. Rich, said in a statement, that Heller would be deeply missed, adding he-
“was a loving and caring father to his daughter and a dedicated and loyal friend to all of those who had the pleasure of knowing him.”
- Zachary T. Rich, Director of Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners
Emergency crews arrived after officers found Heller, and pronounced him dead at the scene. Eventually Detectives located Curtis, in a parking lot in Bridgewater Township. According to officials, Curtis was found suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Reportedly, the suspect had a gun in his possession, and he was also later pronounced dead at the scene. According to the Patch.com report-
“The investigation remains ongoing to determine a motive. A preliminary investigation found that the shooting was an isolated incident and Heller was the intended target,”
- Patch.com
Earlier, on February 1st , 30-year-old Sayreville Republican Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour was fatally shot ,while inside her vehicle, before it crashed outside her home. That investigation is ongoing. Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office has not reported details regarding a suspect or information on a motive. Dwumfour’s unsolved death ,comes after bizarre incidents in which New Jersey political figures have been killed or targeted for homicide.
“Murder is an inherently evil act, no matter what the circumstances, no matter how convincing the rationalizations.”
-Bentley Little