Franklin Twp., NJ – Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Franklin Township Public Safety Director Quovella M. Maeweather announced the conviction of Eder Gelin, a 40-year-old man from Douglasville, Georgia, for attempted murder and related charges. The verdict, delivered in Superior Court by a jury on January 18, followed an incident at a Franklin Township hotel on August 21, 2022.
Assistant Prosecutor Rory Eaton presented the case to the Honorable Peter J. Tober, P.J.Cr., where Gelin was found guilty of 1st degree Attempted Murder, 2nd degree Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose, 2nd degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, two counts of 2nd degree Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and 3rd degree Endangering the Welfare of Another Person.
The incident occurred in the early hours of August 21, 2022, when Franklin Township Police responded to a shooting at a hotel on World’s Fair Drive. Officers found a 37-year-old female victim with gunshot wounds to her hip and foot. She identified the shooter as Eder Gelin, known to her, who was later apprehended by the police without incident.
Investigations by the Franklin Township Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit revealed that Gelin, under the influence of alcohol, had become irate and threatened the victim while holding her at gunpoint in a hotel room, in the presence of her two children. The victim managed to escape, but Gelin chased and shot her, causing the injuries.
The victim received immediate medical attention at the scene and was transported to a local hospital for emergency treatment. A handgun was recovered from the scene, aiding in the investigation and subsequent conviction of Gelin.