Man officially charged with Somerville Arson

SOMERVILLE, N.J. – Somerset County First Assistant Prosecutor Annemarie L. Mueller, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Chief of County Detectives Francisco Roman Jr., and Somerville Borough Chief of Police Dennis Manning announced the arrest of Amr A. Khodeer, age 24, of Somerville, New Jersey in relation to a commercial/residential arson that occurred on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, in Somerville.

First Assistant Prosecutor Mueller stated that on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at approximately 2:03 p.m., Somerville Fire Department and Somerville Police responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a fire on West Main Street in Somerville, New Jersey. The fire was a four-alarm fire. Fire companies from Finderne, Bound Brook, Hillsborough Station 37, Hillsborough Station 36, Martinsville, Franklin Fire District 27, Franklin Fire District 56, Country Hills Fire Department, Green Knoll, Manville, Warren Township, Raritan Borough, Lyons VA, North Branch, and Liberty Corner responded to assist Somerville Fire Department in extinguishing the fire. Emergency medical personnel from Somerville, Martinsville, and Green Knoll also responded to the scene to render aid, along with officers from the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office who assisted Somerville Police with traffic control in the affected area. Personnel from the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management, including the Somerset County Fire Coordinator, responded to assist with a unified command consisting of fire and police personnel.

The fire resulted in severe damage to the building as well as neighboring residential/commercial structures resulting in numerous residents being displaced. Thanks to the quick response from the first responders, all the occupants of the buildings were safely evacuated and were uninjured. One Somerville Police officer sustained minor injuries during the event, was transported to an area hospital, and was subsequently released. Four firefighters also sustained minor injuries. Two were treated at the scene and cleared while the other two were treated at the hospital and later released.

First Assistant Prosecutor Mueller stated that detectives from the Somerville Police Department along with detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and Fire Investigation Unit responded to assist Somerville Fire Officials in investigating the fire.

As a result of the investigation, it was determined that Amr Khodeer was seen leaving the basement of the building on West Main Street where the fire originated as smoke was observed coming out of the building behind him. A short time later, a construction vehicle was taken from Union Street in Somerville. The vehicle was seen leaving the area at a high rate of speed, driving in a reckless manner, and striking two motor vehicles and a structure in the Township of Bridgewater before becoming disabled. The driver of the vehicle, Amr Khodeer, fled the vehicle and was apprehended by officers from the Bridgewater Police Department. The driver of one of the vehicles hit by Khodeer was transported to a local hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries sustained from the motor vehicle accident. Khodeer was found to have fresh burns to his extremities and was also transported to a hospital for treatment.

On June 4, 2024, Amr Khodeer was arrested and charged with 3rd degree Theft of a Motor Vehicle and served with numerous motor vehicle summonses. Defendant Khodeer was initially lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending his court hearing in this matter and was subsequently transferred to the Morris County Jail. The charges were later upgraded to 2nd degree Theft of a Motor Vehicle due to the value of the construction vehicle.

First Assistant Prosecutor Mueller stated that detectives from the Somerville Police Department, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Fire Investigation Unit, and the Somerset County Arson Task Force continued their investigation into the fire that occurred on West Main Street. As a result of this investigation, the Somerset County Arson Task Force determined that the fire originated from the basement of the building and that it was intentionally set. The injuries sustained by Amr Khodeer at the time were also determined by the Arson Task Force to be consistent with burns from being present at a fire.

First Assistant Prosecutor Mueller stated that on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, Amr Khodeer was charged with two counts of 2nd degree Aggravated Arson. Amr Khodeer was served with his criminal complaint at the Morris County Jail where he is currently lodged on previous charges stemming from this incident.

First Assistant Prosecutor Mueller, Chief Roman, and Chief Manning request anyone with information relating to the arson contact the Somerset County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at (908) 231-7100 or the Somerville Police Department at (908) 725-0331 or via the STOPit app. The STOPit app allows citizens to provide anonymous reports including videos and photos. STOPit can be downloaded to your smart phone for free at the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, access code: SOMERSETNJ. Information can also be provided through the Somerset County Crime Stoppers’ Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All anonymous STOPit reports, and Crime Stopper tips will be kept confidential.

NOTE: The charges are merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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