Two men were arrested last week in the case of a historic New Jersey church that was showered with bullets during the holidays.
Joseph Galli of Somerville and Alex Norrell of Ridgewood were accused of firing more than 40 rounds from an AR-15 into Old Paramus Church on East Glen Avenue on Nov. 16 and Dec. 26. The church was empty on both occasions.
Officials said the church was simply used as a target, and was chosen because of its isolated location. Bergen County Prosecutor John L. Molinelli declined to comment on possible other motives.
Galli, 21, and Norrell, 22, are cousins, and Galli is a Marine. He was arrested Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, and will be extradited back to New Jersey. Norrell purported to be a former Marine corporal on Facebook, and posted news stories regarding the church shootings.
Ridgewood Police Chief John Ward said that Galli executed the shootings in both cases.
Norrell was arrested on marijuana and high-capacity ammunition possession at his home on Pershing Avenue as the result of a police investigation into the shootings.
The church was built over 200 years ago, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The shootings damaged stained glass windows dating from 1875, and caused police to increase patrols in the area.
The church's pastor, Rev Robert Miller, expressed relief that the perpetrators were caught.
"These arrests have put us more at ease," he said. "We appreciate the Ridgewood Police Department, which kept us informed throughout their investigation."
Mayor Paul Aronsohn also praised the department's work, saying, "They went above and beyond for us."
Galli was charged with possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, possession of an assault firearm, both second-degree crimes, criminal mischief in excess of $2,000, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, and manufacturing a sawed off shotgun.
Norrell was charged with conspiracy to commit criminal mischief, and conspiracy to possess a firearm for an unlawful purpose
