Man Charged With Attempted Murder In Shooting In Somerset County

FRANKLIN, NJ — A Franklin man was charged with attempted murder following a shooting in the Township in September, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.

Nate Rowell, 25, of Harvey Street, New Brunswick, was charged with first-degree attempted murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon and third-degree endangering another person.

On Sept. 13, at around 6:45 p.m., a Franklin Township resident reported driving in the area of Girard Avenue and Easton Avenue when a loud noise was heard. The driver assumed it was debris in the roadway.

When they got home, the resident noticed bullet holes in the trunk of the motor vehicle, said McDonald.

Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Franklin Township investigated and identified Rowell as the driver of the suspect vehicle which was seen leaving a parking lot of a local business on Easton Avenue.

After leaving the parking lot, Rowell stops his vehicle, opens the driver’s side door, and fires two gunshots in the direction of an occupied vehicle parked on Girard Avenue near Easton Avenue, said McDonald.

As Rowell fires his gun, he hit an unrelated vehicle which was driving by at that time, said McDonald.

Rowell is seen closing the driver’s side door and leaving from the area.

Officers found two spent shell casings in the area of the alleged shooting. No injuries were reported from this shooting incident.

On Sept.28, Rowell was served with a criminal warrant complaint at the Middlesex County Corrections Center where he has been staying since Sept. 25, on unrelated charges from Middlesex County.

Rowell will remain lodged pending a detention hearing in this matter.

McDonald would like to thank members of the North Brunswick Police Department
for their help in this investigation.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is asked 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). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

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