FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ (Somerset County) – Somerset County authorities announced the guilty verdict of charges contained in the indictment of Eder Gelin, 40, of Douglasville, Georgia in relation to an attempted murder that occurred at a Franklin Township hotel in 2022.
On Jan. 18, after deliberations, the jury found Gelin guilty on charges of first-degree attempted murder, second-degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, two counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a child and third-degree endangering the welfare of another person stemming from the Aug. 21, 2022 incident where he shot the victim three times in and around a hotel located in Franklin Township as the victim attempted to flee, according to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.
On Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, at around 1:25 a.m., police responded to a call for service to an area hotel located on World’s Fair Drive in Franklin Township in response to a report of a shooting. Upon responding to the location, patrol officers located a 37-year-old woman suffering from gunshot wounds to her hip and foot, McDonald said.
The female told officers that Gelin, who is known to the victim, had shot her. Responding Franklin Officers were able to locate and apprehend him without incident, McDonald said.
The investigation revealed that earlier in the evening Gelin had been drinking alcohol and become irate and threatening towards the victim. He subsequently brandished a handgun and held the victim at gunpoint in the presence of her two children for over an hour while inside of the hotel room, McDonald said.
The victim stated to authorities that she was able to escape from Gelin, who chased and shot at her causing wounds to her foot and hip, McDonald said.
Responding Franklin Township Police Officers along with Emergency Medical personnel treated the victim at the scene and transported her to a local hospital for emergency treatment for her injuries, McDonald said.
Authorities were able to locate a handgun which was recovered from the scene, McDonald said.
McDonald stated that resulting from this investigation, Gelin was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted murder, first-degree kidnapping, second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child.
Gelin is scheduled to be sentenced on March 8.
