Assault Suspect Pleads Guilty in Ocean County Court Hearing

Jackson Township, Ocean County, New Jersey – A 26-year-old man from Freehold Borough, Michael Vulpis, pled guilty to Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in connection with an incident that occurred on June 27, 2024. Authorities in Ocean County announced this news on February 3.

The Ocean County Prosecutor, Bradley D. Billhimer, revealed that Vulpis will face sentencing on April 4, 2025. The state will seek a term of 5 years in New Jersey State Prison for the Aggravated Assault charge and 5 years for the Weapon charge, with 42 months of parole ineligibility. These sentences will run concurrently.

According to officials, on the early morning of June 27, 2024, officers responded to a report of a male gunshot victim on Larsen Road in Jackson Township. The victim, a 27-year-old man, had suffered a gunshot wound to his face. He was treated at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and later released.

An investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies revealed that the victim and a female were in a parked vehicle when two assailants approached them. One of the assailants, identified as Vulpis, shot the victim in the face during an altercation before fleeing the scene. Vulpis was later taken into custody on July 3, 2024, and charged.

Further investigation implicated another individual, Noah Phelps, in the attack. Phelps was charged with Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder and surrendered to authorities on August 16, 2024. Additionally, Glenn Franzson was charged with Witness Tampering and Possession of illegal substances and a weapon.

As the legal process unfolds, the charges against Phelps and Franzson remain pending. The authorities continue to work diligently to ensure justice is served in this complex case involving multiple individuals and criminal acts.