FRANKLIN TWP., N.J. – Somerset County Prosecutor Michael H. Robertson, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives John W. Fodor and Franklin Township Public Safety Director Quovella Spruill announced the arrest of Mr. Trey Hyman, 19, of King Road, Somerset and Mr. Gavin Owens-Jones, 19 of Peoples Line Road, Somerset in relation to the shooting death of Mr. Dominic J. Frederick, 25 of Winston Drive, Franklin Township that occurred on May 25, 2019, in the area of Petty Road, near the Franklin Greens Apartments in Franklin Township.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that on Saturday, May 25, at approximately 11:05 p.m., Franklin Township Police received multiple calls reporting that a motor vehicle had crashed into a residence on Foxwood Drive in Somerset.
Responding Franklin Township officers, along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office responded and located a male driver who was later identified as Dominic J. Frederick, unconscious behind the wheel.
While trying to reach Frederick to render aid, officers noticed that Frederick had been shot, and was subsequently pronounced deceased at the scene.
Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations Unit, the Franklin Township Police Department, and the Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office responded to conduct the investigation.
The investigation revealed that after the shooting, Frederick continued to drive his vehicle, eventually crashing into a residence on Foxwood Drive.
The vehicle was occupied with other passengers; their identities are not being released at this time. The other occupants of the vehicle were not injured as a result of the shooting.
An autopsy performed by the Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Frederick’s death a homicide.
A year-long investigation into this homicide was conducted by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Franklin Township Police Department.
As part of this investigation, numerous interviews were conducted as well as follow up investigations.
Officials say on Wednesday, June 3, defendant Hyman surrendered to authorities at the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and was placed under arrest without incident. Defendant Hyman was charged with 1st-degree murder, 2nd-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and 2nd-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. Hyman was lodged in the Somerset County Jail, where he will remain pending a detention hearing in this matter.
Prosecutor Robertson stated that also on Wednesday, June 3rd, detectives charged defendant Owens-Jones with 1st-degree Murder, 2nd-degree Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, and 2nd-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon.
Defendant Owens-Jones was charged at the Somerset County Jail, where he is currently being held on unrelated charges. Defendant Owens-Jones will remain lodged, pending a detention hearing in this matter.