HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – An 18-year-old was arrested in connection to three incidents of shots fired which occurred last week in Hillsborough Township, Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
On Sunday, Sept. 3, between the hours of 10:15 p.m. and 10:45 p.m., the rear sliding glass door of a Robin Road residence was struck and shattered by a low caliber bullet. That same evening, within the same time frame, the second-floor exterior of a Brookside Lane residence was also struck by a low caliber bullet.
Both residences were occupied at the time of the incident, and no injuries were reported.
Then on Tuesday, Sept. 5, at around 8:29 p.m., the rear sliding glass door of a Gateway Boulevard residence was struck by a medium caliber bullet. This residence was also occupied at the time of the shooting, and no injuries were reported.
As a result of this investigation, Ryan Vandermeer of Hillsborough Township was identified as a suspect in the shootings, McDonald said.
On Tuesday, Sept. 12, a Superior Court search warrant was executed on Vandermeer’s residence in Hillsborough resulting in the seizure of numerous firearms and ammunition which will be forwarded for further ballistic testing.
Vandermeer was arrested in Hillsborough Township on Sept. 12 without incident and charged with three counts of first-degree attempted murder, two counts of second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, two counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun and three counts of third-degree endangering another person.
Vandermeer was then lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.
Prosecutor McDonald, Chief Roman, and Chief McMahon request anyone with information relating to this investigation to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-231-7100, or the Hillsborough Township Police Department at 908-369-4323, 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.
