FRANKLIN TWP., N.J. – A Georgia man held a woman against her will inside a Franklin Township hotel and shot her twice early Sunday morning.
According to Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Eder Gelin, age 39 of Douglasville, Georgia for the attempted murder and kidnapping of the female victim.
On Sunday, at approximately 1:25 a.m., Franklin Township 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 an adult female, age 37, suffering from gunshot wounds to her hip and foot. The adult female victim advised officers that the suspect, Eder Gelin, who is known to the victim, had shot her and was located at the scene. Responding Franklin Officers were able to apprehend Mr. Gelin without incident,” Prosecutor McDonald said.
Prosecutor McDonald stated Detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit responded to investigate.
“The investigation revealed that earlier in the evening defendant Gelin had been drinking alcohol and become irate and threatening towards the victim. Defendant Gelin 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,” the prosecutor added.
According to a police report, the victim stated to authorities that she was able to escape from defendant Gelin, who chased after the victim and shot at her causing wounds to her foot and hip.
“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. The victim is expected to survive her injuries. Authorities were able to locate a handgun which was recovered from the scene,” police said in their report.