Somerville, N.J. – Gerald S. Chapman, 41, from Highland Park, N.J., was convicted on September 27 by a Somerset County jury for several offenses, including possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose and endangering the welfare of a child. Following the trial, Judge Peter J. Tober sentenced Chapman on November 15 to five years in New Jersey State Prison and imposed a parole disqualifier of 42 months.
The charges originate from a road rage incident that occurred on May 5, 2023, in Franklin Township. Chapman was accused of pulling alongside the victim’s car, John Doe, striking the car’s mirror, and subsequently firing a 9 mm handgun twice at Doe’s vehicle. The victim was outside his vehicle at the time to fix the damaged mirror.
During the shooting, Chapman’s daughters, ages one and a half and four, were reportedly in his car. After the incident, Chapman disposed of the firearm and removed evidence from his vehicle, as revealed during testimony.
The prosecution team, led by Assistant Prosecutors Michael McLaughlin and Lorina Murphy, acknowledged the investigative work by the Franklin Township Police.