Freehold Man Among 3 Indicted In Shooting Of Man In Parked Car

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Three men have been indicted in connection with a shooting in Jackson in June, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office said.

Michael J. Vulpis, 26, of Freehold; Noah Phelps, 24, of Monroe, and and Glenn Franzson, 32, of Jackson Township, were indicted Wednesday by an Ocean County grand jury on charges in connection with the June 27 incident.

Jackson police were called to a home on Larsen Road about 12:20 a.m. on June 27 for a 27-year-old man who had suffered a gunshot wound to the face, the prosecutor's office said. The victim was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune where he was treated and later released, authorities said.

Investigators learned the victim and a woman were sitting in a parked vehicle outside a home when a blue sedan pulled up and parked in front of the vehicle, blocking it in, authorities said. Two men got out, approached and knocked on the window of the vehicle. When the victim got out, one of the men began punching him, and one of the assailants — later identified as Vulpis — shot the victim in the face, authorities said.

On Wednesday, Vulpis was indicted on charges of 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, authorities said.

Phelps was indicted on charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, authorities said.

Franzson was indicted on charges of 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 in connection with the incident, authorities said.

Authorities identified Vulpis as the shooter, and later learned Phelps was the second assailant and conspired with Vulpis on the attack him.

Phelps was charged Aug. 15, and his name was entered in the National Crime Information Center database. On Aug. 16 he surrendered himself to the Freehold Township Police Department. He was taken to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.

Investigators additionally learned 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 the investigation, authorities said.

Franzson was charged and on Aug. 15 detectives searched his home, where they found methamphetamine and a Polymer 80 handgun (ghost gun) with a high-capacity magazine, authorities said. Franzson was arrested and taken to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.

Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Meghan O’Neill is handling the case. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime and High Tech Crime units, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Gangs/Intelligence/Homeland Security Squad, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Emergency Response Team, Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Jackson Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, Freehold Township Police Department, and Freehold Borough Police Department have cooperated in the investigation.