Man Assaulted Woman With Gun 1 Hour Before Franklin Murder: Cops

FRANKLIN, NJ — A New Brunswick man is being hit with more charges after it was discovered he hit a woman in the face with a gun one hour before the shooting death of Franklin Township 30-year-old David D. Anderson, Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.

Najee K. Croom, 27, of Wright Place, New Brunswick reportedly assaulted a woman with a handgun causing bleeding and bruising on her face, an investigation by Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Franklin Township Police Department Detective Bureau found.

Croom is now also being charged with second-degree aggravated assault, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and third-degree aggravated assault.

These charges are being added to charges Croom received in connection with a shooting that happened on Saturday, May 18 at about 11 p.m.

Croom was initially charged with first-degree murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon.

The shooting was reported to police that one person, later identified as Anderson, was shot multiple times in the area of 94 Matilda Ave. in Franklin Township, the release said.

Further information revealed that the fatal shooting occurred during a large gathering at Naaman Williams Park. Anderson was taken by a civilian to an area hospital where he died from his injuries while undergoing emergency treatment, Robertson said.

Numerous witnesses were interviewed during the six-month investigation by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations Unit and the Franklin Township Police Department which resulted in the arrest.

Croom was already in jail at the Middlesex County Corrections Center since May 29 on unrelated charges stemming from Middlesex County. Croom will remain at the MCCC pending a detention hearing.

Croom had also been previously charged with second-degree possession of a handgun and fourth-degree possession of hollow point ammunition in December 2014 by the SCPO.

Detectives are continuing the investigation into the circumstances leading up to the aggravated assault and the homicide. A motive has not been released, authorities said.

Anyone with information relating to this homicide is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutors 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). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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