The man, whose name was not released, killed himself in an area just south of the HI Rib & Company restaurant parking lot in the Pennytown Shopping Village complex
By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP — A 51-year-old High Bridge man committed suicide in Hopewell Township early Wednesday evening by shooting himself in the head in front of police officers who were trying to convince him to put his handgun down.
The man, whose name was not released, killed himself in an area just south of the HI Rib & Company restaurant parking lot in the Pennytown Shopping Village complex, located off Route 31, just north of Route 654.
Chief George Meyer of the Hopewell Township police said that at 5:13 p.m. Wednesday, police received a call from the Raritan Township Police, through Hunterdon County Communications, asking for help in the search for the man who, Raritan police said, was possibly in the Hopewell area. Raritan police had received a report, which said the man was despondent, possibly suicidal, and possibly armed with a handgun.
”Hunterdon authorities were able to establish a general location for the subject via his cell phone,” Chief Meyer said. “He was reported to be around Route 654 and Marshall’s Corner. Hopewell officers began looking for the individual and his vehicle.”
At 5:22 p.m., township Sgt. William Springer found the man’s vehicle in the parking lot of HI Rib & Company. The sergeant then saw the man, who had a handgun, sitting on the ground just south of the restaurant parking lot.
Officers immediately secured the area, diverted traffic off Route 31 and advised the restaurant to lock down. Township officers attempted to get the man to put his gun down.
An off-duty NJ state trooper who was passing by observed what was happening and stopped to assist. As the officers continued their efforts to persuade the man to put down his weapon, he raised it to his head and fired.
No shots were fired by any of the police at the scene, and those officers immediately went to the man to provide medical aid, but it was apparent he was dead.
Police remained at the scene conducting the investigation until approximately 6:50 p.m. The roadway was reopened at that time.
Hopewell Township and Hunterdon County officers are in the process of notifying the individual’s family. Working on the case township Officer Robert Sparano and Detective Daniel McKeown, Pennington Borough Police and the NJ State Police. The Mercer County Medical Examiner’s Office assisted at the scene.

