Man Stabs Woman To Death, Arrested After SWAT Stand-Off In Somerset County: Prosecutor

FRANKLIN, NJ — A Somerset man was arrested for murder after police say he stabbed a woman to death and then charged at officers with a knife on Wednesday.

Craig Montgomery, 60, of Somerset, was charged with first-degree murder and third-degree possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, said Somerset County Prosecutor John P. McDonald.

On Tuesday at around 10:11 p.m., a 911 call reported hearing loud arguing and requested a welfare check on an apartment on Majesty Lane in the Somerset Park community.

Franklin Township police officers tried several times to contact the residents but were unsuccessful.

Police then got another call with further concerns for the same apartment, said McDonald.

Officers went back to the apartment, and while trying to get inside the apartment, they reportedly encountered Montgomery.

Montgomery told officers that he had a knife and had barricaded himself in the apartment, said McDonald.

At around 1:50 a.m. on Wednesday, members of the Somerset County SWAT team, the Crisis-Negotiations Team and SWAT Tactical Medics came to help.

SWAT team members were able to breach a sliding door and enter the apartment.

Once inside, Montgomery allegedly charged at officers with a knife.

Using "less than lethal force," SWAT members were able to subdue Montgomery and take him into custody without incident, said McDonald.

While in the apartment, police reportedly found an unresponsive adult woman with apparent stab wounds to her chest. She was pronounced dead.

A second person, who was also in the apartment, was unharmed, authorities said.

Montgomery was taken to a local hospital for medical evaluation and treatment of minor injuries.

Detectives from the Franklin Township Police Department, along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, the Crime Scene Investigations Unit, and Medical Investigators from the New Jersey Northern Regional Medical Examiner’s Office investigated.

Authorities have not released the identity of the adult woman pending positive identification by the Medical Examiner’s Office.

The investigation remains ongoing.

On Wednesday, Montgomery was served with the charges.

Once released from the hospital, Montgomery will be taken to the Somerset County Jail, where he will be processed and then lodged pending a detention hearing.

Anyone with information relating to this investigation is asked to contact the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit at 908-231-7100 or the Franklin Township Police Department at 732-873-5533 or via OPS Tips.

Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All tips will be kept confidential.

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