Man With Gun Tried Robbing Franklin Lakes Gas Station: Cops

FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ — A Vermont man was arrested after police said a woman was threatened with a handgun and a bullet was fired into a gas station Saturday night, police said.

Lonnie Murray, 58, of Northfield, Vermont was charged with armed robbery, criminal possession of a firearm, and two counts of making terroristic threats, said Capt. John Bakelaar.

Police received a report at 10:25 p.m. of a dispute on Colonial Road. The dispute involved a possibly intoxicated man with a handgun who threatened a woman. The woman did not know the man, Bakelaar said.

Shortly after 11 p.m., police got a report of an attempted armed robbery at the Lukoil gas station on Franklin Avenue, Bakelaar said. A shot was fired into the gas station where an attendant was hiding.

Authorities notified nearby police departments and Murray was arrested by Midland Park police on Greenwood Avenue at 11:14 p.m., the captain said.

Wyckoff police officers found the gun on Godwin Avenue in Midland Park, Bakelaar said.

Murray was remanded to the Bergen County Jail.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com