Police Release Videos In Fatal Franklin Shooting

FRANKLIN, NJ — Police have released two videos in an attempt to try and find two people wanted in connection with a fatal shooting in Franklin.

One video shows two people walking with one person, who appears to have a distinct walk. The second video is of a vehicle, that appears to be a dark or gray colored sedan. The vehicle was last seen leaving Village Drive and turning left onto Route 27 going northbound, Someset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson said.

The shooting was reported around 11:50 p.m. on July 7 in the area of Village Drive in Franklin Park.

Raphael Edwards, 27, of Village Drive, Franklin Park was found by police suffering from a gunshot wound in the area and was taken to an area trauma center where he was later pronounced dead, Robertson said..

Detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, and the Crime Scene Investigations Unit, are conducting the homicide investigation.

The death has been ruled a homicide by the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office. A preliminary investigation is that the shooting was an isolated incident. Investigators are trying to establish a motive.

Crime Stoppers of Somerset County, Inc. is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the identification and arrest of the people responsible for the shooting death of Edwards.

Anyone with information relating to the 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.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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