FREEHOLD, N.J. — A 26-year-old man has been handed a significant prison sentence following a violent incident that occurred in June 2024 in Jackson Township. Michael Vulpis was sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison after he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The sentencing took place on May 2, 2025, under the supervision of Judge Kimarie Rahill. As part of the terms established by the No Early Release Act, Vulpis will serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole, according to Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer. Additionally, Vulpis received a concurrent five-year sentence for possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, with a 42-month parole ineligibility period.
The charges stem from an incident reported around 12:20 a.m. on June 27, 2024, when officers from the Jackson Township Police Department responded to an emergency call indicating that a man had sustained a gunshot wound. Upon arrival, they discovered a 27-year-old victim who had been shot in the face. He was promptly rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for treatment and was later released.
Investigators pieced together the events leading to the shooting. It was determined that the victim and a female companion were sitting in a parked car when a blue sedan blocked their exit. Two men exited the sedan, approached the victim’s vehicle, and began an assault that culminated in the victim being shot.
Authorities identified Vulpis as the shooter. Following his arrest at his residence on July 3, 2024, he faced multiple charges, including attempted murder and unlawful possession of a weapon. He has been incarcerated since that date.
The investigation also unveiled the involvement of another individual, Noah Phelps, aged 24, from Monroe Township. Phelps allegedly conspired with Vulpis to attack the victim. He was ultimately charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Phelps turned himself in to authorities the following month and was later released under New Jersey’s bail reform policies.
In a related development, investigators discovered that Vulpis and another accomplice, Glenn Franzson, a 32-year-old from Jackson Township, conspired to persuade the victim to provide false statements to law enforcement. Following the execution of a search warrant at Franzson’s home, authorities seized methamphetamine and a ghost gun along with a high-capacity magazine. Franzson faced multiple charges, including possession of a weapon without a serial number, and he too was released under bail reform.
The legal proceedings for both Phelps and Franzson are ongoing. The case underscores the challenges faced by local authorities in addressing violent crime and the complexities that arise from collaborative criminal behavior.