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New York|Prosecutor Takes Over Local Police Force in New Jersey After 2 Killings
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/07/nyregion/nj-state-trooper-suspect-shootings.html
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An investigation into the shooting deaths of two people and the apparent suicide of a suspect, a state trooper, “raised serious concerns” from the county prosecutor’s office.
Aug. 7, 2025, 8:00 p.m. ET
A county prosecutor in New Jersey took control of a local police department this week after an investigation into a double homicide and apparent suicide of the suspect, a New Jersey state trooper, “raised serious concerns” about police “operations and effectiveness.”
Renée M. Robeson, the Hunterdon County prosecutor, said in a news release posted on Facebook that her office “will supervise the day-to-day operations” of the police force in Franklin Township, where the killings took place, until further notice.
The takeover happened after two local police officials including the chief, Timothy Snyder, were placed on administrative leave by the Franklin Township council, Ms. Robeson said in the news release. Reached by phone and email, a spokeswoman for the office declined to detail the prosecutor’s concerns about the police department. The New Jersey State Police did not respond to calls or an email seeking comment.
The prosecutor’s announcement came on Wednesday, five days after two people — Lauren Semanchik, 33, and Tyler Webb, 29 — were shot dead on Saturday in the Pittstown section of Franklin Township.
Ricardo Santos, a state trooper, has been named by investigators as a suspect in the shooting of Ms. Semanchik, a veterinarian who had previously dated Lieutenant Santos. Mr. Webb, a mechanic and volunteer firefighter from Forked River, N.J., was dating Ms. Semanchik.
Lieutenant Santos had been a supervisor on the protection detail for the New Jersey governor, Philip D. Murphy, but more recently had been assigned to drive a high-ranking member of the attorney general’s office.
