Man Beaten, Shot In Face While Sitting With Woman In Vehicle In Ocean County

JACKSON, NJ — A Freehold man has been charged with attempted murder, accused of shooting a Jackson Township man after helping attack the man while he was sitting in a car outside a home, the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office announced Thursday.

Michael J. Vulpis, 26, of Freehold, was arrested Wednesday 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 or ammunition in connection with a June 27 assault, Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said.

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.

The attackers fled after the shooting, authorities said.

Investigators were able to determine Vulpis had shot the victim, authorities said.

Vulpis is being held at the Ocean County Jail pending a detention hearing.

The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime and High Tech Crime units; 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, combined in the investigation.