By: Richard L. Smith
Hillsborough has been on edge due to three recent shooting incidents, and now, an arrest has been made.
18-year-old Ryan Vandermeer of Hillsborough was apprehended on September 12, 2023, following a series of events that unfolded earlier that month.
According to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office, on the evening of September 3, between 10:15 and 10:45 p.m., two homes were targeted in separate shooting incidents.
Officials said a Robin Road residence had its rear sliding door shattered by a low-caliber bullet, and another home on Brookside Lane experienced similar damage.
Police said while both homes were occupied at the time, no one was injured.
Fast forward to September 5, around 8:29 p.m., another residence on Gateway Boulevard was hit, this time by a medium-caliber bullet. Again, the house was occupied, but no one was harmed.
With an active investigation underway, spearheaded by Hillsborough Township Police and the Somerset County Prosecutor's Major Crimes Unit, Vandermeer emerged as the prime suspect.
His home was subsequently searched, yielding numerous firearms and ammunition.
Following his arrest, Vandermeer faces a slew of charges, including three counts of 1st degree Attempted Murder and multiple weapons-related offenses. He is currently held at Somerset County Jail, awaiting a detention hearing.