New Jersey is mourning the loss of yet another beloved municipal council member, Russell Heller, who was shot dead in his car in the parking lot of PSE&G, where he worked as a senior distribution supervisor.
This shooting comes exactly a week after the unsolved murder of Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, who was also a member of the Milford Borough Council.
On Wednesday, just after 7 a.m., Russell was found dead in the Somerset parking lot of PSE&G. Authorities identified a former employee, Gary Curtis, as a suspect and found him dead from a suspected self-inflicted gunshot in his car a few hours later. The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office has stated that the murder of Russell Heller appears to be an isolated incident, but the investigation is still ongoing to determine the motive.
Governor Phil Murphy offered his condolences to the family and friends of Russell Heller and called for an end to gun violence. US Representative Tom Kean Jr. also expressed his sadness at the loss of his fellow Republican, describing Russell as “an outstanding public servant who proudly represented the river town he loved.”
Milford Mayor Henri Schepens shared that the Milford Borough Council was deeply saddened by the loss and that Russell was a valued member of the community who will be dearly missed. The director of the county board of commissioners, Zachary Rich, spoke of the collective shock and grief felt by the community over the “senseless shooting death” of Russell, who was a loving and caring father to his daughter and a dedicated friend to all who knew him.
PSE&G offered support to its employees after the “tragic and disturbing event” and stated that Russell was an admired employee who had served the company for over 11 years and will be deeply missed.