Hillsborough man arrested after Route 206 shooting prompts school lockdown and police search
HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — A 19-year-old Hillsborough resident is in custody following a daytime shooting along Route 206 that sparked a large-scale police response, placed nearby schools in a secure hold, and triggered a multi-agency manhunt.
According to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Dawan Jeter was arrested Tuesday evening after surrendering to Hillsborough Township Police. He is accused of firing a weapon during a confrontation with another male in the area of 649 Route 206, just south of Amwell Road, at approximately 1:00 p.m. on November 18.
Both the alleged shooter and the victim fled the scene on foot before officers arrived. Witnesses provided a description of those involved, prompting officers to secure the area and begin a coordinated search. Schools and businesses in the area were advised to shelter in place as a precaution.
Multiple law enforcement units responded, including detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations Unit, Somerset County Sheriff’s Officers, the K-9 Unit, and the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, which provided aerial support.
Authorities later located the 19-year-old male victim, also from Hillsborough, who was not physically injured in the incident. Through investigative efforts, Jeter was identified as the alleged shooter. A tactical team executed a search warrant at Jeter’s residence, but he was not found at the location.
Just before 6:00 p.m., Jeter voluntarily arrived at the Hillsborough Township Police Department and was taken into custody without incident.
He has been charged with:
- First-degree Attempted Murder
- Second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun
- Second-degree Possession of a Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose
- Third-degree Endangering Another Person
Jeter is being held at the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing. No injuries were reported, and the lockdown measures were lifted after his arrest.