Somerset County officials announced the arrest of Joshua A. Kinney, age 27, Skillman.
According to County officials, on Saturday, October 29, at approximately 0317 hours, Somerset County Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call reporting that an unknown male displayed an AR15-style rifle to an employee at the Wawa parking lot, Route 206.
Montgomery Township Police say, officers were able to obtain a description of the actor along with the vehicle he was alleged to be utilizing.
Police say, the actor fled from the area in an unknown direction of travel before the arrival of law enforcement.
According to Montgomery Township Police, officers conducting the investigation were subsequently informed that two (2) unidentified female customers had relayed that they heard what sounded like gunshots as the suspect departed the parking lot.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that while the investigation was conducted, Somerset County Communications Center was contacted by a concerned family member of Joshua A. Kinney.
Investigators quickly ascertained that Kinney was the alleged individual that displayed the rifle.
Montgomery Township Police requested mutual assistance from Hillsborough Township Police and were able to track Kinney to a residence on Zion-Wertsville Road, Skillman, New Jersey.
Responding Officers established a perimeter of the residence.
According to police, the suspect vehicle, which was alleged to have been utilized during the incident, was also present at the residence.
Police say, at approximately 5:20 a.m. officers requested an activation of the Somerset County SWAT and the Crisis Negotiations Team.
Officials stated that following the SWAT activation, Montgomery Township Police Officers successfully established telephone contact with Kinney.
Kinney subsequently exited his residence and began negotiations with officers.
At approximately 6:37 a.m. Kinney was taken into custody without incident by Somerset County SWAT officers as he walked away from his residence.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that with the assistance of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit, Montgomery Township Police successfully located an AR-15 rifle, a handgun, and high-capacity magazines for both weapons in a wooded field off of Spring Hill Road, Skillman.
The investigation revealed that this is an area where defendant Kinney crashed his vehicle following the Wawa incident while en route to his residence.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that defendant Kinney was charged with 2nd-degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, 2nd degree Certain Persons not to have Weapons or Ammunition, 2nd-degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Handgun), 4th-degree Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine (2 counts), 3rd-degree Possession of a Firearm without obtaining a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card, 3rd-degree Hindering Apprehension, 4th-degree Obstruction, and 4th-degree Interception of Official Communications.
Defendant Kinney was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.