MAY 11, 2026
NEWS RELEASE: MULTIPLE FIREARMS RECOVERED DURING FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP INVESTIGATION
FRANKLIN TWP, N.J. – Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Acting Chief of County Detectives Meredith McKay, and Franklin Township Public Safety Director Lloyd Fredericks announce the arrest of Jeffrey Grant, age 25, Long Branch New Jersey, Elijah Crossen, age 20, Somerset, New Jersey, Qoreon Drew, age 18, Middlesex, New Jersey and Abusamad Short, age 19, Keansburg, New Jersey. All four individuals were arrested following an investigation conducted by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force Street Crimes Unit and the Franklin Township Police Department on May 5, 2026, in Franklin Township.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 5, 2026, members of the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force Street Crimes Unit were conducting a quality-of-life detail in the area Franklin Boulevard and Baier Avenue in Franklin Township. This detail was being conducted in response to recent reports of firearms activity in the area received by Franklin Township Police Department.
On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, during an investigation as part of this detail, detectives conducted a motor vehicle stop on a vehicle in the area of Franklin Boulevard and Easton Avenue. Upon approaching the vehicle, detectives observed a firearm in plain view inside the vehicle near the passenger side door. Detectives obtained a Superior Court search warrant for the vehicle. While executing the search warrant, an additional firearm was located and seized as evidence along with multiple high-capacity magazines. As a result of this investigation, the driver of the vehicle, identified as Jeffrey Grant, and passenger of the vehicle, identified as Elijah Crossen, were placed under arrest without incident and transported to the Franklin Township Police Department for processing.
While the motor vehicle stop was being conducted, detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Street Crimes Unit observed numerous individuals congregating in a parking lot near Franklin Boulevard and Baier Avenue in Franklin Township. Detectives observed an individual identified as Abusamad Short alerting the other individuals in the area to the presence of the police officers. Upon being alerted, detectives observed an individual identified as Qoreon Drew place a backpack under the tire area of a vehicle located in the parking lot and then walk away. Detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force Street Crimes Unit and members of the Franklin Township Police Department approached the individuals in the parking lot. As officers approached the crowd, Abusamad Short attempted to flee the area on foot. After a brief foot pursuit, Short was detained by police. Detectives retrieved the abandoned backpack. A search of the backpack was conducted which yielded three firearms, one of which was defaced. Based on the detective’s observations, Qoreon Drew was taken into custody. While in police custody, Drew was being walked to a patrol car when he attempted to flee from the patrol officers while handcuffed. Drew was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit and transported to the Franklin Township Police Department for processing without further incident.
On the evening of Tuesday, May 5, 2026, subsequent to this investigation, a Franklin Township resident contacted the Franklin Township Police after locating an additional firearm in the bushes near the scene of the investigation resulting in a total of six firearms recovered and seized from this investigation.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that as a result of the motor vehicle stop, Jeffrey Grant was arrested and charged with 2nd degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, three counts of 4th degree Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine, one count of 4th degree Certain Persons Not to Possess Weapons, and two counts of 4th degree Possession of Hollow Point Ammunition. Elijah Crossen was arrested and charged with 2nd degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, three counts of 4th degree Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine, and one count of 4th degree Possession of Hollow Point Ammunition.
Prosecutor McDonald stated that as a result of the investigation that followed, Qoreon Drew was arrested and charged with three counts of 2nd degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, one count of 4th degree Possession of a Defaced Firearm, one count of 4th degree Possession of Hollow Point Ammunition, and one count of 4th degree Resisting Arrest by Flight. Abusamad Short was also arrested and charged with Resisting Arrest by Flight, a disorderly person’s offense.
Defendants Grant, Crossen, and Drew were all processed at the Franklin Township Police Department and transported to the Somerset County Jail. Defendant Short was processed and released on a summons complaint pending his court date in this matter.
Defendants Grant, Crossen, and Drew had detention hearings in this matter at which Presiding Judge Peter J. Tober determined that defendants Grant and Drew will be detained pending trial and defendant Crossen would be released pending trial in this matter.
Prosecutor McDonald, Acting Chief McKay, and Public Safety Director Fredericks request anyone with information relating to this investigation to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force at (908) 231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at (732) 873-5533 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477) or to SCPO.TIPS. All anonymous STOPit reports, and tips will be kept confidential.
Note: The charges are merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
