Montgomery man taken into custody after firing AR-15 in Wawa parking lot: prosecutor
A 27-year-old Montgomery man is facing multiple firearms charges after allegedly displaying a semi-automatic rifle in a Wawa parking lot last weekend where customers reported hearing gunshots, announced the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office.
Joshua A. Kinney, of the Skillman section, was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, certain persons not to have weapons or ammunition and unlawful possession of a weapon, all second-degree crimes, as well as two counts of possession of a large-capacity magazine, possession of a firearm without obtaining a firearms purchaser identification card, hindering apprehension, obstruction and interception of official communications, said Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald and Montgomery Acting Captain and Police Director Silvio Bet.
Kinney was being held at the Somerset County Jail pending a detention hearing.
The Somerset County Communications Center received a 911 call around 3:17 a.m. Oct. 29 reporting a man displaying an AR-15-style rifle to an employee in the parking lot of the Wawa on Route 206 in Skillman, McDonald said.
Arriving Montgomery officers were able to get a description of the driver and vehicle which fled in an unknown direction, the prosecutor said. As the investigation was continuing, the Somerset County Communications Center was contacted by a member of Kinney's family and investigators determined Kinney was the alleged individual who displayed the rifle, McDonald said.
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Montgomery police, assisted by Hillsborough police, were able to track Kinney to a home on Zion-Wertsville Road in the Skillman section where police set up a perimeter around the house, the prosecutor said. The suspect vehicle allegedly involved in the Wawa incident was also spotted at the home and around 5:20 a.m., Montgomery police requested for an activation of the Somerset County SWAT and the Crisis Negotiations Team, the prosecutor said.
Following the SWAT activation, Montgomery police were able to establish telephone contact with Kinney who exited his home and began negotiations with officers, McDonals sai.d Around 6:37 a.m., Kinney was taken into custody without incident by Somerset County SWAT officers as he walked away from his home, McDonald said.
An AR-15 rifle, a handgun and high-capacity magazines for both weapons were located in a wooded field on Spring Hill Road with the assistance of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Computer Crimes Unit, McDonald said. The investigation revealed that this is an area where Kinney crashed his vehicle following the Wawa incident while returning to his home, the prosecutor said.
Authorities have not released a motive for Kinney’s actions and the incident remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.
Anyone with information relating to this incident to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office at 908-231-7100, the Montgomery Township Police Department at 908-359-3222 or via the STOPit app. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Skillman NJ Wawa shooting suspect faces multiple firearms charges
