By: Najla Alexander
Authorities in Ocean County announced that on September 18, Michael Vulpis, 26, of Freehold Borough, was indicted by a Grand Jury sitting in Ocean County for Attempted Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon or Ammunition, and Conspiracy to Commit Witness Tampering, all in connection with an incident that occurred in Jackson Township on June 27, 2024.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said additionally, Noah Phelps, 24, of Monroe Township, was indicted for Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder.
Glenn Franzson, 32, of Jackson Township, was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Witness Tampering, Possession of a Weapon Without a Serial Number, Possession of a High-Capacity Ammunition Magazine, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Methamphetamine, all in connection with the same incident, officials said.
According to officials, on June 27, at approximately 12:20 a.m., officers from the Jackson Township Police Department responded to the area of Larsen Road for a report of a male having suffered a gunshot wound.
Responding Officers found a 27-year-old male with a gunshot wound to his face, officials say, and the victim was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of his injuries; he was treated and subsequently released.
Officials stated that an investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Jackson Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the victim and a female were sitting in a parked vehicle outside of a residence on Larsen Road.
A blue sedan then parked in front of the vehicle - blocking it in; authorities say two males exited the blue sedan, approached the vehicle, and knocked on the window. As the victim was exiting the vehicle, one of the assailants began to strike him, and then, during the assault, one of the assailants shot the victim in the face.
The assailants then fled the area, officials said. Further investigation revealed that Michael Vulpis, 26, of Freehold Borough, was the individual who shot the victim.
According to officials, on July 3, 2024, Vulpis was taken into custody at his residence without incident and charged with Attempted Murder, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since his arrest.
Continuing investigation revealed that Phelps was the second assailant involved in the attack on the victim and that Phelps and Vulpis conspired to attack him, officials stated.
As such, on August 15, 2024, Phelps was charged with Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder; a warrant for his arrest was issued, and his name was entered in the National Crime Information Center database, officials say.
Officials said on August 16, 2024, Phelps surrendered himself to the Freehold Township Police Department. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.
During the course of the investigation, Detectives determined that Franzson and Vulpis conspired to contact the victim of the attempted murder in an effort to have the victim give a false statement to law enforcement in reference to the investigation, officials say. As a result, Franzson was charged with Witness Tampering and Conspiracy to Commit Witness Tampering.
Authorities say on August 15, 2024, Detectives executed a court-authorized search warrant on Franzson’s residence. As a result, Detectives seized a quantity of Methamphetamine and a Polymer 80 handgun (ghost gun) with a high-capacity magazine.
Franzson was taken into custody at the residence without incident, officials say.
During a search incident to his arrest, Franzson was also found to be in possession of a quantity of cocaine, according to officials. As a consequence, Franzson was additionally charged with Possession of a Weapon Without a Serial Number, Possession of a High-Capacity Ammunition Magazine, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Methamphetamine.
Franzson was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform, officials stated.
Authorities say on August 16, 2024, Vulpis was additionally charged with Conspiracy to Commit Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Witness Tampering. Vulpis was served with the charges on a complaint in the Ocean County Jail.