Morristown News Roundup: Gunpoint Robbery, Road Closures, Protests, New Apartments & More

A thin glaze of ice was enough to turn Tuesday’s commute into a cautious crawl across parts of Morris County, while the week’s other headlines ranged from a high-profile Morristown robbery case moving toward indictment to lane closures on I-287 that signal years of bridge work ahead. 

At the same time, Morristown residents are looking toward two very different gatherings later this month: a large planned “No Kings” rally at Town Hall and the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. And a long-fought Speedwell Avenue redevelopment dispute appears to have cleared a legal hurdle that could reshape a key corridor with new housing and retail.

Here's the latest news you may have missed:

1) Winter weather advisory for Greater Morristown on Tuesday, March 3

A winter weather advisory covers Morris County and neighboring Sussex and Warren counties from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 3, 2026, with forecasters warning of mixed precipitation and slick travel during the morning commute. The National Weather Service advisory calls for up to about 1 inch of snow and sleet, plus ice accumulation around a light glaze, which can be enough to make untreated roads, bridges, and sidewalks slippery even if totals look modest.

The advisory highlights that the hazard is the combination of precipitation types, not just snowfall. Even a thin layer of ice can reduce traction and increase stopping distances, especially during the first part of the event when temperatures and road surfaces are still cold. Residents commuting in and around Morristown were urged, in general terms, to plan for slower travel and potentially hazardous conditions during the advisory window.

2) Morristown gunpoint robbery case involving a Jets player, indictment expected

Morris County prosecutors say they plan to seek a grand jury indictment within about six weeks for Noah Shaffer, 26, of Paterson, who is charged in connection with a Feb. 15, 2025, armed robbery of a New York Jets player outside a Morristown-area home. On March 2, 2026, Shaffer appeared in court via video from the Bergen County Jail, where he is being held on unrelated charges out of Passaic County; no plea deal was offered at that time.

Authorities allege the crime involved four masked suspects who followed the player, identified in court documents as “J.S.,” from New York City clubs to his home near Windmill Pond. Investigators say the suspects used a Volkswagen Taos with fictitious plates, blocked the victim’s vehicle in the driveway, and stole a $10,000 watch and wallet. They also allegedly robbed the player’s driver of $400 at gunpoint. Investigators used a mix of traffic camera evidence, GPS data tied to a rental vehicle, surveillance video from Morristown police, and phone records to trace the suspect's movements from New York City into New Jersey. 

Prosecutors noted that cameras on the George Washington Bridge recorded the suspect's vehicle closely following the victims’ vehicle. According to the affidavit, phone records from the bridge and from South Street in Morristown showed a mobile number that investigators traced to an AT&T customer name tied to Shaffer’s address; a jail search warrant was used to confirm the phone belonged to Shaffer. As of the latest report, no arrests have been announced for the other three suspects.

3) I-287 shoulder closures and Hanover Avenue lane closures tied to bridge work

Drivers in parts of Hanover Township and Morris Township have been dealing with daytime shoulder closures on I-287 and single-lane closures on Hanover Avenue (County Route 650) over I-287 as early-stage work begins on a long-term bridge project. The reported schedule includes I-287 shoulder closures between mileposts 37.26 and 37.56 near the Hanover Avenue bridge, generally 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, with Hanover Avenue lane closures generally 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, continuing for “several weeks.”

The closures are described as necessary for snow clearing, installation of construction signage, and surveillance and preparatory work ahead of the larger bridge replacement effort. Officials have described the work as a moving operation on both roadways, meaning the active work zone may shift as crews progress. The broader project is described as a $17.5 million, federally funded effort focused on replacing the concrete bridge deck on the Hanover Avenue/CR 650 bridge spanning I-287, with additional upgrades including drainage, lighting, signage, fencing, sidewalk work, and ADA curb ramp improvements. Construction is expected to run for an extended period, with reporting citing completion targeted for spring 2028, subject to changes due to weather or other factors.

4) Morristown’s “No Kings” rally planned for March 28

Morristown has been listed as a host location for a nationwide “No Kings” protest scheduled for Saturday, March 28, 2026, (from 11 am-12:30 pm), planned for the steps of Morristown Town Hall on South Street. Organizers and local sponsors expect another major turnout following an October event last year that drew an estimated 8,000 people in Morristown. This year's Morristown rally, like the October event, is part of a broader national day of action that organizers said includes thousands of events nationwide.

The March 28 event, as described on nokings.org, focuses on opposition to policies of President Trump and will feature local officials, faith leaders, musicians, and community voices. 

Morristown has been on the receiving end of federal immigration enforcement, including a January raid that detained 11 people. The wider Morris County Community has also been grappling with ICE's purchase of a warehouse in Roxbury to be used for enforcement activity. NJ Governor Mikie Sherrill has responded with a series of executive actions to limit ICE's ability to function in New Jersey.

Nearby protests will take place in Denville (1pm-3pm), Hackettstown (12:30pm-2pm), Bridgewater (11am-12:30pm) West Caldwell (1:30pm-3:30pm), Glen Ridge (12pm-2pm), and dozens of other locations throughout the state.

5) St. Patrick’s Day Parade pins and preparations for Parade Day in Morristown

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade of Morris County is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2026, with step-off at noon in Morristown. The parade route is publicly listed as starting at Morristown Town Hall (200 South Street), proceeding along South Street to the Morristown Green, and then continuing along Washington Street to Morristown High School.

Organizers have also been promoting fundraising and community participation ahead of the parade. A key part of that is the sale of official parade pins, which the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick of Morris County say can be purchased in multi-pack options online, and also “at local bars, shops, delis, etc.” individually for $5 each. In addition, parade organizers have announced a Grand Marshal Reception honoring Michael G. Bannon on Friday, March 6, 2026, from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Mansion at Mountain Lakes, listing admission as a $110 donation per person with proceeds supporting the parade organization and annual festivities; the event is expected to include Irish-themed entertainment such as music, bagpipers, and Irish step dancers.

6) Speedwell Avenue redevelopment settlement clears path for at least 70 apartments

A long-running and contentious redevelopment dispute in Morristown ended in a settlement that, if finalized as described, would allow at least 70 new apartments along Speedwell Avenue, extending toward Clinton Place, with buildings described as three to four stories and “the possibility for more units.” The settlement terms described in reporting include 15% affordable housing, which Morristown Green reported as 11 units, and a requirement for 88 onsite parking spaces. The project may also include up to 8,800 square feet of retail space.

The developer, Paul Marshall (or a designee), may apply for a tax arrangement known as a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes), but the town did not promise approval, agreeing instead to evaluate any application under standards it has “historically” applied. Reporting also states that Marshall agreed to drop defamation claims against Mayor Tim Dougherty and town redevelopment counsel John Inglesino, and dropped demands seeking millions in damages and reimbursement for legal and engineering costs. A Superior Court judge, Judge Noah Franzblau, approved the settlement, and the case is to be dismissed once the town amends its redevelopment plan as required.

The relationship between Marshall and Morristown has been disputed for years, including earlier litigation involving development rights and parking land, and later allegations that the town reduced allowable density for Phase Three of the broader Speedwell redevelopment in ways that Marshall argued made projects financially unworkable. Morristown officials and attorneys disputed those claims, and reporting described the settlement as difficult but fully negotiated, with PILOT-related issues a major sticking point.

For Morristown and the surrounding towns, the throughline this week is how quickly day-to-day life can shift, whether it is a weather system that changes road conditions in hours, construction that reshapes a major commute for years, or court and planning decisions that reverberate across public safety, housing, and downtown life. As these six stories move from alerts and announcements into outcomes, residents will be watching for what comes next: updated forecasts and road conditions, the next steps in the robbery case, detailed construction schedules, turnout and public safety plans for major gatherings, and the specifics that will determine what a new Speedwell Avenue development ultimately looks like and who it serves.

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