2 Charged In Drive-By Shooting, Attempted Murder In Franklin

FRANKLIN, NJ — Two Bound Brook men were charged in connection with an attempted murder and drive-by shooting in Franklin this past September. Authorities had been looking for the two men since the shooting in September.

Dyshawn O. Williams, 23 and Sekuann D. Copeland, 22, of Talmadge Avenue, Bound Brook were both found on Jan. 3 and 4, 2019 with the help of detectives from the Bound Brook Police and Manville Police, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.

A Franklin Township man said he was driving his vehicle when an SUV began to tailgate him and then pulled up alongside him. The front seat passenger of the SUV then began shooting at him, Robertson said.

A 911 call reported the shooting in the area of Franklin Boulevard in Franklin Township on Sep. 12, 2018 at about 8:10 p.m. Police found the victim with a gunshot wound to his hip and he was transported to the hospital for medical treatment, Robertson said.

• See Related: Police Investigate Shooting, Franklin Victim Hospitalized

The victim's vehicle was found to have two bullet holes in it, police said.

Williams and Copeland were identified as being inside the SUV at the time of the shooting, according to an investigation by detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes and Crime Scene units, and detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department.

Williams and Copeland were both charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. They were both lodged in the Somerset County Jail.

Anyone with information to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100, or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.888577tips.org or at www.scpo.net and click on either “Crime Stoppers” or “TIPS HOTLINE”. All anonymous Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

(Image via Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office: Dyshawn O. Williams, 23 and Sekuann D. Copeland, 22, of Talmadge Avenue, Bound Brook)

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