In the late hours of July 7, 2020, the life of 27-year-old Raphael Edwards of Franklin Park was tragically cut short in a fatal shooting in Somerset, New Jersey. At approximately 11:52 p.m., Franklin Township Police responded to 9-1-1 calls reporting shots fired near Village Drive. Upon arrival, officers discovered Edwards suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by the officers and emergency medical personnel, he was transported to a local trauma center where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation, a joint effort by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations Unit, and the Franklin Township Police Department, initially suggested the shooting was an isolated incident as they worked to determine a motive. In the weeks that followed, a reward of up to $2,500 was offered for information leading to an arrest.
The investigation led authorities to release surveillance videos to the public, one showing two individuals, one with a distinct walk, and another showing a dark-colored sedan leaving the scene.
A breakthrough in the case came in late August 2020 with the arrests of two men. William Brandon, 28, of Somerset, was taken into custody on August 25 and charged with first-degree murder and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Shortly after, on August 31, 29-year-old Chris Gardner of New Brunswick was also arrested and faced charges of first-degree murder, first-degree conspiracy to commit murder, and second-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Both men were lodged in the Somerset County Jail.
Further investigation revealed that the motive for the fatal shooting stemmed from a personal dispute between Brandon and Edwards that reportedly began with an exchange on Instagram. This online altercation escalated, leading to the deadly confrontation. The case against both Brandon and Gardner proceeded through the legal system, with prosecutors building their case on evidence that included surveillance footage and witness testimonies.
