By: Richard L. Smith
Authorities in Somerset County announced the arrest of four men after an investigation into reported firearms activity in a Franklin Township neighborhood led to the recovery of six guns, including one defaced weapon.
According to the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, the arrests followed a quality-of-life detail conducted on May 5 near Franklin Boulevard and Baier Avenue by members of the Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force Street Crimes Unit alongside the Franklin Township Police Department.
Prosecutor John P. McDonald said detectives initiated the operation in response to recent reports of firearms activity in the area.
During the investigation, detectives conducted a motor vehicle stop near Franklin Boulevard and Easton Avenue after observing a firearm in plain view inside the vehicle, officials said.
Authorities later executed a court-authorized search of the vehicle and allegedly recovered an additional firearm along with multiple high-capacity magazines.
The driver, identified as Jeffrey Grant, 25, of Long Branch, and passenger Elijah Crossen, 20, of Somerset, were taken into custody without incident.
Investigators said that while the vehicle stop was underway, detectives observed a group gathered in a nearby parking lot.
Authorities allege that Abusamad Short, 19, of Keansburg, alerted others in the area to the presence of police.
Detectives then allegedly saw Qoreon Drew, 18, of Middlesex, place a backpack underneath a vehicle tire before walking away from the scene.
Police approached the group, and officials said Short attempted to flee on foot before being apprehended after a brief chase.
Detectives later recovered the backpack, which allegedly contained three firearms, including one that had been defaced.
Authorities said Drew also attempted to flee while handcuffed as officers escorted him to a patrol vehicle. He was captured after a brief foot pursuit.
Later that evening, a Franklin Township resident reportedly discovered another firearm hidden in nearby bushes and notified police, bringing the total number of recovered weapons in the investigation to six.
Grant was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of high-capacity magazines, certain persons not to possess weapons, and possession of hollow-point ammunition.
Crossen faces charges including unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of high-capacity magazines, and possession of hollow-point ammunition.
Drew was charged with multiple counts of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a defaced firearm, possession of hollow-point ammunition, and resisting arrest by flight.
Short was charged with resisting arrest by flight, a disorderly persons offense.
The investigation remains active and ongoing.