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A New Jersey Republican councilmember has been murdered in what has been described as a “targeted attack.” Council member Eunice Dwumfour of Sayreville, New Jersey, was shot and killed outside of her residence on Wednesday.
“Police say they believe the Republican councilwoman and Newark native was the intended target of the shooting, but do not have a clear motive. They think her car traveled about 100 feet before slamming into two parked cars. Dwumfour was elected to the council in 2022. She was also a business analyst and part-time EMT,” WABC-TV reported.
“Eunice was a dedicated member of our Borough Council who was truly committed to serve all of our residents. The fact that she was taken from us by a despicable criminal act makes this incident all the more horrifying,” Sayreville Mayor Victoria Kilpatrick said. “As Mayor I have worked very closely with Eunice in her time on the Borough Council. Beyond her dedication to our community, I can share that she was a woman of deep faith and worked hard to integrate her strong Christian beliefs in to her daily life as a person and a community leader. On a personal note, I can’t adequately express my feeling of sorrow at the loss of a friend.”
Eunice Dwumfour, a black Republican councilwoman from NJ, was shot dead last night in what police have said was a "targeted" shooting.
Police have not yet given a motive but we can make an educated guess.
Tragic and sickening. Who knows what she could have gone on to achieve? pic.twitter.com/cl5C4s9Yri
— Ben Kew 🐶 (@ben_kew) February 2, 2023
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who heads the state with some of the strictest gun laws in the nation, also expressed his sorrow.
“I am stunned by the news of Sayreville Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour’s murder last evening in an act of gun violence. Her career of public service was just beginning, and by all accounts she had already built a reputation as a committed member of the Borough Council who took her responsibility with the utmost diligence and seriousness. I send my condolences to Councilwoman Dwumfour’s family and friends, her governing body colleagues, and the entire Sayreville community. Sayreville is a proud, tight-knit, and safe community and I know that it will come together, as it always has, in common purpose. The New Jersey State Police are supporting the ongoing investigation, and I urge anyone with information to contact either the Sayreville Police or the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office,” he said.
In August another Republican lawmaker was tragically killed in a car crash.
Rep. Jackie Walorski was killed in a head on car crash.
The Indiana Republican representative was 58 and her husband, Dean Swihart, was informed of her death by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s office on Wednesday afternoon, NBC News reported.
“It is with a heavy heart that I am sharing this statement from the Office of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski,” Republican House Minority Leader and California Rep. Kevin McCarthy said on Twitter.
“I’m shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and the other victims of this terrible crash. Though we came from very different places politically, she was always prepared to work together where there was common ground, always decent and straightforward, and she cared deeply about her work and her constituents,” Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said on Twitter.
“Jackie was a very good friend. I’m devastated. This is a major loss for our community,” Rep. Jake Teshka said.
“My heart is broken for Dean, the Walorski family, and all who knew and loved my friend Jackie. Jackie was a true public servant –selfless, humble, and compassionate. She was a devout Christian, a passionate advocate for life, and a leader among Hoosier representatives. Everything Jackie did was to serve others. Before Congress, she served in the Indiana Statehouse and she and her husband served as missionaries in Romania where they provided impoverished children food and medical care. From my first day in Congress, Jackie showed me kindness and grace. She had a heart of gold, and I will miss her dearly. Please join Amanda and I in praying for Jackie’s loved ones and the friends and family of her two staff members who also lost their lives in this tragic accident,” Rep. Jim Banks said.
“I’m truly devastated. Jackie loved Hoosiers and devoted her life to fighting for them. I’ll never forget her spirit, her positive attitude, and most importantly her friendship. All of Indiana mourns her passing, along with the tragic deaths of her staff Emma Thomson and Zach Potts. Please join me in praying for their families in this difficult time,” Sen. Todd Young said in a tweet.
“Just seeing the awful news about Rep. Jackie Walorski. Heartbreaking. I’ll be praying for her family after this awful and shocking tragedy. May God surround and comfort them all,” Rep. Lauren Boebert said.
“I am stunned to hear about the death of my friend and colleague, Jackie Walorski. Our offices neighbor each other in DC, and I was honored to call her my friend. Please join Brenda and me in praying for Jackie’s family and for the families of the others who lost their lives,” Tennessee Rep. Chuck Fleischmann said.
“My prayers are with the family and staff of my colleague, Congresswoman Jackie Walorski and the others who were tragically killed in a traffic collision today. Please keep them in your thoughts,” Rep. Val Demmings said.
.@KarenPence and I are heartbroken by the tragic passing of our dear friend Rep. Jackie Walorski. She served Indiana in the Statehouse and the Congress with integrity and principle for nearly two decades and will be deeply missed. Our prayers are with her husband Dean, her family, and the families of Zachery Potts and Emma Thomson who also perished in the crash. We’re praying God’s comfort over their families and to all who loved and admired this truly inspiring Indiana leader. God Bless Jackie Walorski,” former Vice President Mike Pence said.
