Report: Milford councilman shot and killed by former coworker

According to a report from MyCentralJersey, Milford Borough Councilman Russell Heller was shot and killed today by a former coworker outside a PSE&G facility in Franklin Township.

Heller was a senior distribution manager at PSE&G, where Gary Curtis, the shooter, formerly worked. After the shooting, police tracked Curtis to a parking lot in Bridgewater, where he was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“We are heartbroken at the tragic death of Russell Heller,” PSE&G said in a statement provided to MyCentralJersey. “Russell was an admired employee and a supervisor with over 11 years of service with PSE&G. He will be sorely missed by all and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.”

Heller, a Republican, was first elected to the Milford Borough Council in 2017, and was last re-elected to represent the small Hunterdon County town in 2020.

Heller’s murder drew tributes from Republicans across the state.

“On behalf of the Hunterdon County Board of Commissioners, we share in the collective shock and grief felt upon learning of Russell Heller’s senseless shooting death today. Russell was a dedicated and valuable member of the Milford and Hunterdon County community whose leadership and commitment will be sorely missed,” said Zachary Rich, the director of the county commission. “More importantly, however, Russell was a loving and caring father to his daughter and a dedicated and loyal friend to all of those who had the pleasure of knowing him. We join our colleagues in Milford in offering our most sincere heartfelt condolences to the Heller Family at this unimaginably difficult time for their tragic loss.”

“It is with great sadness and shock that we offer our condolences to the family of Milford Councilman Russell Heller — an outstanding public servant and devoted father,” NJ GOP chairman Bob Hugin said. “To see the lives of not one but two community leaders cut tragically short within one week is unimaginably distressing. As we mourn these losses, we are particularly praying for justice and answers in the unsolved murder of Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour. May God bless both of their memories.”

This story was updated with statements from Rich and Hugin.