Gun With Hollow Point Bullets Found In School Bushes In Somerset Co., Man Arrested: PD

FRANKLIN, NJ — A Burlington man was arrested after police said they found a loaded gun with hollowpoint bullets in the bushes at a private school in Franklin Township.

On Tuesday at around 6:09 a.m., a 911 call reported a vehicle was being driven through a Franklin Township private school campus with two flat tires.

Franklin Township police officers saw a person later identified as Quincy K. Clark, 49, of Whitford Drive, Burlington Township, coming out of the bushes with his hands in his pockets, said Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.

Officers also found a high-capacity ammunition magazine on Clark. A further search of the area where Clark was seen turned up a gun containing hollow point bullets on the ground in between bushes, said McDonald.

The school campus was closed to students, faculty, and staff while Franklin Township and Somerset County Prosecutor's Office officers conducted the investigation which included a thorough search of the school grounds.

A Somerset County Superior Court-ordered search warrant was also executed on Clark's vehicle where more than a half ounce of cocaine was found and seized along with more ammunition, said McDonald.

Clark was arrested and charged with second-degree possession of a handgun, third-degree possession of a firearm on school grounds, fourth-degree possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine, second-degree possession of CDS (over ½ ounce) with the intent to distribute, and fourth-degree possession of hollow point bullets.

Clark was taken to the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The investigation thus far has found that Clark had no connection to the school, faculty, or students. Authorities are still investigating the motive as well as Clark's whereabouts before arriving on the school campus.

McDonald commended the Franklin Township Police for their quick response and quickly initiating an emergency action plan along with school officials as authorities investigated the incident.

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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