A routine traffic merge on September 11, 2025, erupted into a life-altering shooting near Stockton University, leaving a mother of three blind in one eye and exposing a suspect’s hidden past.
From Hollywood to Real Estate: The Suspect’s Dual Life
Ernest Wesley Heinz, 46, from Port Republic, New Jersey, had worked in entertainment with uncredited roles in HBO’s “The Sopranos” and as a face model for “Resident Evil” video games. He later shifted to real estate and mortgage brokering, focusing on new construction, after moving from California to care for his terminally ill father. Court records, however, revealed a 2002 domestic violence restraining order—still active nearly 23 years later—that barred him from possessing firearms due to documented aggressive behavior toward intimate partners or family.
The Shooting: A Merge Dispute Turns Deadly
The incident unfolded on South Pomona Road in Galloway Township as Maritza Arias-Galva, a single mother of three, returned from grocery shopping. She signaled to merge into a single lane when Heinz, driving a white Honda CR-V registered to his mother, allegedly cut her off. At a red light on Vera King Farris Drive, tensions boiled over.
Surveillance footage and witnesses captured Heinz yelling threats at Arias-Galva. Her son later recounted the suspect warning, “I’m going to kill you today. Today, I’m gonna take care of you,” before firing a single .380 caliber shot at 12:52 p.m. The bullet shattered her window, entered through her upper nose, and destroyed her right eye as she tried to roll it up. Officers found her conscious but bleeding heavily and rushed her to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center. Surgeons saved her life, but doctors said she would likely never regain sight in that eye.
Campus in Crisis: Students Shelter in Place
Heinz fled north toward Stockton University, prompting a shelter-in-place alert that afternoon. Students hunkered down in classrooms, the theater, and dining areas, uncertain about an armed suspect nearby. Freshman Brooke Heritage described the fear: “We were all worried, like, were they on campus? Were they going to be going into classrooms? Because we were told they were around our age, so they could blend in.” Diamond Caze added, “The world is just scary. You don’t think it’s going to happen at your college until it does.” The all-clear came later that afternoon.
Evidence Trail: Multiple Firearms and Attempted Cover-Up
Within 10 minutes of the shooting, Heinz arrived at his parents’ home in Galloway Township, still carrying the handgun. Surveillance showed him leaving shortly after with a black rifle case and a red Wawa bag, actions prosecutors later called evidence concealment. He then visited a storage unit in Port Republic rented by an acquaintance. A search warrant uncovered multiple firearms—handguns, rifles, shotguns—including one registered to his father—violating the longstanding restraining order.
Police arrested Heinz that afternoon at a residence in Blue Heron Pines Development, Galloway Township, without resistance. Initially facing five counts, he was denied bail on September 25 after prosecutors showed video of his post-shooting movements. His attorney, Robin Kay Lord, argued for release, citing his caregiving for his father from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. and character letters praising his integrity. The judge deemed him dangerous.
Justice Pending: 31 Felony Counts and Decades Behind Bars
Prosecutors built their case through December, gathering forensics, witness statements, and storage unit evidence. A grand jury indicted him in December 2025, expanding charges to 31 felonies, including first-degree attempted murder, multiple weapons possession counts, hindering apprehension, and evidence tampering. A GoFundMe for Arias-Galva was established to help cover surgeries, care, and lost wages; she had undergone one eye operation. Her son, Victor Feliz-Arias, stated in court records, “I just want justice… Lock him up and don’t let him out.”
Arias-Galva described the ordeal on the fundraiser page: “Everything happened in a blur. I remember the deafening sound of the gunshot as the bullet shattered my window. Glass flew everywhere, and blood poured down my face… I feared he would return to finish what he started.” The case drew national notice for highlighting road rage, easy firearm access despite restrictions, and escalation from minor disputes—echoing AAA data that 96% of drivers admit aggressive behaviors.
Arraignment on the 31 counts is set for January 30, 2026, at Atlantic County Courthouse, where Heinz will enter pleas and face trial discussions. Conviction on attempted murder could mean 10-20 years, plus 3-10 years per weapons charge under New Jersey’s Graves Act, potentially consecutive for decades behind bars. Arias-Galva endures permanent damage and family trauma, Stockton’s community grapples with shaken security, and the proceedings will test evidence against defenses of aberration. One split-second act underscores enduring risks on everyday roads, with justice still unfolding.
Sources
Statement on Shelter-in-Place Directive. Stockton University Office of the President, September 11, 2025
Former Actor Charged in Galloway Township Road Rage Shooting Faces 31 Counts. 6ABC News, December 23, 2025
Resident Evil Actor Indicted on Attempted Murder in Road Rage Incident. Philadelphia Inquirer, December 23, 2025
Driver Who Allegedly Shot Mom of 3 in Eye During Road Rage Incident Slapped with 31-Count Indictment. Law & Crime, December 23, 2025
NJ Actor Faces Fresh Charges in Stockton Road Rage Shooting Case. New Jersey 101.5, December 3, 2025