Somerset Man Charged With Attempted Murder In May 31 Shooting

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — A 45-year-old Somerset man is in custody after he was charged with attempted murder in connection with a shooting that took place in late May in Franklin Township, the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office announced Tuesday.

Johnny Totten was charged after turning himself into police June 25; and in addition to the attempted murder charges, he faces multiple weapons charges, including possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, prosecutors said in a news release. Totten is being held in the Somerset County Jail pending a bail detention hearing.

Prosecutors said Franklin Township police were sent to a local hospital just before 10:30 p.m. May 31 after a man was reportedly shot near Hamilton Street. An investigation by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office’s Major Crimes Unit and detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department determined that Totten was the person responsible for the shooting, authorities said.

The victim, who was not identified by prosecutors, survived the shooting. After turning himself into police, Totten was charged with attempted murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon without a permit, and second-degree certain persons not to have weapons and hindering apprehension.

Anyone with information relating to the shooting is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office's Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via the STOPit app. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.