Man Arrested After Shooting Himself In The Leg: Bergen County Prosecutors

JERSEY CITY, NJ — A Jersey City man has been charged with weapons offenses after he shot himself in the leg and sought treatment at a Bergen County hospital, prosecutors said.

Joel Galvis, 40, was charged Friday with possession of a firearm, certain persons not to possess a firearm, possession of a defaced firearm, and possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine, said the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office on Tuesday.

Just before 6:30 a.m. on Friday, police went to Englewood Hospital after Galvis sought treatment for a leg injury.

Investigators determined that he sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg and drove himself to the hospital.

During a court-authorized search of Galvis’ car, which was parked nearby, detectives found guns and a high-capacity ammunition magazine, prosecutors said.

They also saw that the serial number on one of the weapons was defaced, according to authorities.

Galvis was treated for his injury, released from the hospital into police custody, and taken to the Bergen County Jail to await a detention hearing in Bergen County Superior Court.