A former actor with credits in “The Sopranos” and the “Resident Evil” video game series faces 31 criminal counts, including first-degree attempted murder, following a September road rage shooting near Stockton University in Galloway Township, New Jersey.
Ernest Heinz, 47, of Port Republic, New Jersey, was indicted by a grand jury on December 22, 2025, for allegedly shooting a woman in the face during a confrontation at a traffic light on Vera King Farris Drive. The incident occurred on September 11 around 12:30 PM and triggered a three-hour lockdown of the nearby university campus.
The victim, Maritza Arias-Galva, told authorities she was driving north on South Pomona Road with her turn signal activated when a vehicle cut her off and attempted to ram her vehicle twice. The driver then followed her, eventually stopping alongside her at the red light near the Stockton University entrance.
At the traffic light, Heinz allegedly shouted at Arias-Galva before firing at least one shot from a .380 caliber Sig Sauer handgun into her vehicle, striking her in the upper nose area. “I remember the deafening sound of the gunshot as the bullet shattered my window,” Arias-Galva wrote on a GoFundMe page. “Glass flew everywhere, and blood poured down my face.”
During the confrontation, prosecutors said Heinz threatened to kill the victim. She managed to call 911 despite blood obscuring her vision. The gunshot wound left Arias-Galva blind in one eye.
Police arrived at the scene to find Arias-Galva suffering from a non-fatal gunshot wound to her face. The university immediately implemented emergency protocols, placing the campus on lockdown for approximately three hours while authorities searched for the suspect.
Investigators arrested Heinz hours after the shooting. Surveillance footage allegedly showed him returning to a residence in Port Republic after the attack. Authorities said Heinz visited a storage facility, where investigators later discovered firearms.
The .380 caliber Sig Sauer handgun used in the shooting was registered to Heinz’s father, while the vehicle he drove was registered to his mother. These family connections helped investigators quickly identify and locate the suspect.
The grand jury indictment includes charges of first-degree attempted murder, aggravated assault with a firearm, and numerous weapons possession offenses. Most of the additional charges beyond the initial five stem from the firearms discovered in the storage facility.
Defense attorney Robin Kay Lord represents Heinz in the case.
A judge ordered Heinz held without bail while he awaits trial. He is scheduled for arraignment on January 30, 2026.
Heinz has acting credits including “The Sopranos” and worked on “Resident Evil” video games.
The victim has faced significant medical challenges following the attack. A GoFundMe campaign to assist with her medical expenses and recovery has raised over $8,000.
In her fundraising appeal, Arias-Galva recounted the terror of the attack and its aftermath. She described the incident as a stark reminder that random violence can occur without warning, even when someone is not seeking conflict.
The case has drawn attention not only because of the defendant’s entertainment industry background but also due to the random nature of the alleged attack. Road rage incidents involving firearms remain a significant public safety concern nationwide, with such confrontations sometimes escalating from minor traffic disputes to life-threatening violence in seconds.
The September incident near Stockton University raised particular alarm because of its proximity to the campus, prompting the extended lockdown that disrupted normal operations for students and staff. University officials worked closely with law enforcement throughout the emergency response.
Ernest Wesley Heinz now faces decades in prison if convicted on all counts. The first-degree attempted murder charge alone carries severe penalties under New Jersey law. With the weapons offenses adding to the potential sentence, prosecutors have built a case that could result in substantial incarceration.
As the January arraignment approaches, both the defense and prosecution are expected to present competing narratives about what transpired during those critical moments at the traffic light in Galloway Township, where a routine traffic merge allegedly transformed into a violent confrontation that changed multiple lives forever.
Sources:
https://6abc.com/post/fmr-actor-charged-galloway-twp-new-jersey-road-rage-shooting-faces-charges/18309203/
https://breakingac.com/news/2025/dec/22/port-republic-man-indicted-on-31-counts-in-galloway-road-rage-shooting/
https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nation-and-world/sopranos-actor-indicted-for-attempted-murder-in-road-rage-shooting-3599299/
https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2025/12/former-sopranos-actor-charged-with-attempted-murder-in-nj-road-rage-case.html
https://nypost.com/2025/12/24/us-news/resident-evil-actor-ernest-heinz-indicted-after-allegedly-shooting-woman-in-road-rage-attack/
https://nj1015.com/road-rage-stockton-update/
https://www.the-sun.com/news/15688661/sopranos-star-ernest-heinz-indicted-attempted-murder-shooting-driver/