Welcome to Arrest Stories. A former actor who appeared on The Sopranos has been indicted on thirty-one counts including attempted murder after allegedly shooting a woman in the face during a road rage incident in New Jersey. Here's what may have happened.
On September eleventh in Galloway Township, New Jersey, forty-six-year-old Ernest W. Heinz allegedly shot Maritza Arias-Galva during a road rage confrontation near Stockton University's main campus. According to police reports, the incident began when both drivers were merging into a single lane on South Pomona Road. Heinz allegedly passed Arias-Galva during the merge, and the two vehicles encountered each other again at a traffic light near Vera King Farris Drive.
As both vehicles approached the red light, Heinz allegedly yelled profanities at Arias-Galva, calling her derogatory names before making threatening statements. Police reports indicate Heinz shouted "I'm going to kill you today. Today, I'm going to take care of you." Witnesses reported that Heinz then reached his hand out the window and fired a single shot at the victim's vehicle.
The bullet struck Arias-Galva in the upper nose area and exited through the side of her face, causing a non-fatal but serious injury. Arias-Galva called police following the shooting. Officers arrived on scene around twelve thirty in the afternoon. The victim described her attacker as a white male with blonde hair in a ponytail driving a white Honda SUV.
Police used this description to track down Heinz at a local residence where he was arrested the same day. A grand jury later issued a thirty-one count indictment against Heinz in early January. The new charges reportedly stem from firearms discovered in a storage unit that Heinz allegedly visited moments after the shooting incident.
Heinz is currently being held without bail and is scheduled for arraignment on January thirtieth. His defense attorney stated "He denies the allegations as reported and will contest them through the legal process, where the facts not speculation or headlines will determine the outcome."
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.