Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri and Hopewell Township Police Chief James Rosso reported that a 20-year-old Manalapan man was fatally shot in Hopewell Township Saturday evening.
At approximately 7pm on Saturday, December 17, 2022, Hopewell police responded to the Hopewell Valley Nature Preserve off of Harbourton-Woodsville Road. Upon arrival, officers located a white Mercedes C300 on a trail with a male slumped over in the driver’s seat. The victim was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound a short time later. The victim has been identified as Phillip Urban of Manalapan.
The shooting is under investigation by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force and the Hopewell Township Police Department. Preliminary investigation indicates Urban arranged to meet an acquaintance at the Preserve and was shot at some point during the encounter. No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the MCHTF at (609) 989-6406 or the HTPD at (609) 737-3100 ext. 5740. Information can also be emailed to [email protected]
Editor’s Note – We believe the Prosecutor’s office is referring to the Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space Eames Preserve. Further, a google search found a Phillip Urban from Manalapan – a star athlete who graduated from the Pennington School this year. We but have followed up for confirmation. will update as more details become available.
