The Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office has
announced a mother and her two children were held at gunpoint Sunday in a
hotel room in Franklin Township for over an hour, and now – a man from
Georgia is facing attempted
murder and kidnapping charges.
Police responded to a call for service around 1:25
a.m. to a hotel located on World's Fair Drive in response to a report of
a shooting. There, they found the 37-year-old woman suffering from gunshot
wounds to her hip and foot.
According to the prosecutor’s office, she told
officers the suspect, Eder Gelin, 39, who is known to the victim, had shot her.
He was located at the scene and apprehended without incident.
The investigation revealed
earlier in the evening, Gelin had been drinking alcohol and become irate and
threatening toward the victim. 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.
She stated to authorities she was able to escape
from Gelin, who chased after her and shot at her. The victim is expected to
survive her injuries. Authorities were able to locate a handgun which was
recovered from the scene.
Gelin was charged with first degree attempted murder and first degree kidnapping, among other charges.
Anyone with information relating to the shooting is
urged to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Major Crimes Unit at (908)
231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533.