In the quiet early morning hours of a Wednesday in Somerset, New Jersey, a fatal encounter unfolded in the parking lot of the PSE&G Central Division headquarters. Russell D. Heller, a 51-year-old male, had just arrived for his workday as a senior distribution supervisor, a position he had held for over 11 years with the company. It was here that he was confronted by a former colleague, 58-year-old Gary Curtis.
The confrontation quickly escalated to violence as Curtis, a former PSE&G
employee, fatally shot Heller. The motive for this tragic act was later determined by investigators to be a dispute stemming from prior disciplinary actions between the two men when Curtis was a subordinate to Heller. Authorities were quick to rule out any political motivation for the shooting, despite Heller's status as a Republican councilman for Milford Borough.
Following the shooting, Curtis fled the scene. A few hours later, he was tracked by detectives to a parking lot in Bridgewater Township. There, inside his vehicle, authorities found Curtis deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The handgun he used was found in his possession and was legally registered in his name. The incident was deemed an isolated event by law enforcement, with Heller being the specific target.
The news of Heller's violent death sent shockwaves through his community. He was remembered as a dedicated public servant and a valued member of the Milford and Hunterdon County communities. Colleagues at PSE&G mourned the loss of an admired employee, and local officials expressed their grief and offered condolences to his family, which includes a daughter.
