Ernest Wesley Heinz Denied Bail After Road-Rage Shooting Arraignment

Lead: Ernest Wesley Heinz, 46, appeared in Atlantic County Superior Court on Wednesday, Sept. 17, where a judge denied his bail following his arrest for allegedly shooting a woman during a road-rage incident near Stockton University.

Nut Graf: Heinz’s initial detention hearing underscored the gravity of the charges-attempted homicide, aggravated assault with a firearm and weapons offenses-after he allegedly fired a single shot at Maritza Arias-Galva, 29, at a traffic light on Sept. 11, prompting a three-hour campus lockdown.

Arraignment Highlights

  • No Bail: The court found Heinz a flight and public-safety risk and ordered him held without bail.
  • Next Hearing: A pretrial conference is scheduled for Oct. 8 to set trial dates.

Incident Recap Heinz is accused of cutting off Arias-Galva’s vehicle at the intersection of W. Jimmie Leeds Road and Redwood Avenue in Galloway Township, then exiting his white Honda SUV to fire at her upper nose after threatening to kill her. The victim, who remains hospitalized in stable condition, provided police with Heinz’s description and vehicle details, leading to his arrest at a nearby residence later that day.

Police Investigation and University Response Following the shooting at 12:52 p.m., Galloway Township officers coordinated a shelter-in-place order across Stockton University’s Galloway campus, which lasted nearly three hours while search warrants were executed at multiple locations tied to Heinz, including three Port Republic homes and two vehicles.

Actor’s Background Heinz, a Port Republic resident, appeared in minor roles on The Sopranos, J. Edgar and as a facial model in the Resident Evil franchise. His IMDb credits date from 2006 to 2014.

Community Reaction Local officials praised the victim’s composure in aiding the investigation and emphasized collaborative law-enforcement efforts. Stockton University President Joe Bertolino thanked authorities for their swift action and reiterated the institution’s commitment to safety.