A violent late-night assault that left a man shot in the face on a quiet Jackson street has culminated in a state prison sentence for one of the perpetrators — and revealed a broader conspiracy to silence witnesses and obstruct justice.
Ocean County Prosecutor Brad Billhimer announced Friday that Michael Vulpis, 26, of Freehold, was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison following his guilty plea to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The sentence, handed down by Judge Kimarie Rahill, carries the conditions of the No Early Release Act, requiring Vulpis to serve at least 85% of his term before becoming eligible for parole.
The sentence stems from a harrowing incident on June 27, 2024, when a 27-year-old man was shot in the face while sitting in a parked vehicle on Larsen Road in Jackson, alongside a female companion. The attack began with a car blocking the victim’s vehicle, and two men emerging to confront him. As he exited the car, the victim was assaulted and shot at point-blank range.
Miraculously, the victim survived. He was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, treated, and later released. But the bullet wound were just the beginning of a case riddled with twists, plots, and an alleged campaign to suppress the truth.
Investigators soon zeroed in on Vulpis as the shooter. On July 3, he was arrested at his residence without incident. At the time, he faced a litany of charges, including attempted murder and weapons offenses. As details emerged, it became clear the shooting wasn’t random — it was a premeditated attack, allegedly involving multiple co-conspirators.
Among them was Noah Phelps, 24, of Monroe, NJ, believed to be the second man involved. Charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder, Phelps turned himself in on August 16 — only to be released shortly afterward under New Jersey’s Bail Reform policies, despite the severity of the charges.
The criminal web didn’t stop there.
Detectives uncovered a further plot to obstruct justice: Vulpis, along with Glenn Franzson, 32, of Jackson, allegedly tried to coerce the shooting victim into providing a false statement to law enforcement. That plot led to witness tampering charges, and a court-authorized search of Franzson’s home revealed not only methamphetamine and cocaine, but also a Polymer 80 ghost gun equipped with a high-capacity magazine.
Franzson, like Phelps, was also released following his arrest under Bail Reform guidelines.
The case is still active. Charges against Phelps and Franzson are pending, and prosecutors continue to push forward, despite the hurdles. In the meantime, Vulpis begins his sentence, one piece in a still-unfolding puzzle of violence and intimidation.
Hate to see the young people making the mistake of a lifetime, but 5 years are you kidding me? I think with all of chages. little bit more Would have been more appropriate.I guess taking a bullet in the face isn’t that bad.
Ridiculous! There doesn’t seem to be any really meaningful punishment even for crimes of violence. This just encourages rather than deters crime