Man Shot While Riding Motorcycle On I-287 In Bridgewater: Police

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A man was shot while riding a motorcycle on Interstate 287 in Bridgewater on Sunday night.

At around 6:40 p.m., a man said he was riding his motorcycle on the southbound of the highway when he was shot by people in another vehicle, said New Jersey State Trooper Charles Marchan

The motorcyclist got off the highway at exit 14 and stopped at a parking lot on 362 Chimney Rock Road in Bridgewater before calling the police.

The motorcyclist was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, said Marchan.

The vehicle with the alleged shooters was later found and stopped by North Plainfield Police on Route 22 in North Plainfield, said Marchan.

The three men in the vehicle were arrested by NJSP troopers. The men were identified as:

• Matthew Plaza, 32, of Allentown, PA
• Luiz Velez, 37, of Bethlehem, PA
• Raymond Bethancourt, 35, of Shillington, PA

All three men were charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a high-capacity magazine, possession of weapons for unlawful purposes, manufacturing, distributing or dispensing controlled dangerous substances(CDS), and conspiracy to commit murder.

Plaza was also charged with attempted murder.

No other information is available at this time. The shooting remains under investigation.

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