Man Indicted on January Attempted Murder Charge

A 21-year-old Neshanic Station man who was with attempted murder after he allegedly struck a 24-year-old man with his vehicle in Bridgewater has been indicted by a Somerset County Grand Jury.

Taylor McFadden was indicted on Thursday on charges of attempted murder and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. Attempted murder, a first-degree charge, has a sentencing range of 10-20 years. Possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose is a third-degree charge with a sentencing range of 3-5 years.

Somerset County Prosecutor Geoffrey D. Soriano announced the indictment on Friday.

Back in , Soriano said police responded to a call in Bridgewater on Jan. 23 at about 2 a.m., for a report that a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle and was lying in the roadway.

Soriano said the 24-year-old victim suffered trauma to his head and legs, and was transported to the local hospital by the Martinsville Rescue Squad and Somerset Medical Center's Mobile Intensive Care Unit.

Soriano said that police discovered McFadden had attended a party in a home on Cain Court, and was allegedly physically removed from the residence after a confrontation during the party. McFadden and another person left the residence and allegedly sat in his parked vehicle on Cain Court, Soriano said.

According to Soriano, the victim and a few other guests left the party a little while later to check out the vehicle. But as they approached, the vehicle accelerated and struck the victim, Soriano said. The man, Soriano said, was thrown on the hood and into the windshield.

The Bridgewater Township Police Department and the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office responded to the scene, Soriano said, and identified McFadden as the alleged driver of the vehicle.

Soriano said McFadden was taken into custody at his residence at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 23. His vehicle, Soriano said, was found to have damage to the windshield.