Jackson, NJ – Jackson Township officials are shocked and angry after three men accused in an attempted murder incident on Larsen Road earlier this summer have all been released from jail under New Jersey’s Bail Reform Act.
The three men, Noah Phelp,s 24, Grann Franzon, 32, and Michael Vulpis, 26, assaulted a 27-year-old victim and shot him in the face. The victim survived, but this week, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Bilhimer announced that a New Jersey judge had released two of the men involved after their pre-trial hearing.
A third is no longer listed in the jail roster. Jackson officials were upset to hear that news.
“Our town has been named one of the safest communities year after year, and that’s because of the hard work of our local police officers and our townspeople,” said Mayor Michael Reina. “Governor Murphy’s revolving door of justice that lets violent criminals out of jail hours and days after they are charged not only makes Jackson unsafe but all of New Jersey.”
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that on September 18, 2024, Michael Vulpis, 26, of Freehold Borough, was indicted by a Grand Jury sitting in Ocean County for Attempted Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon or Ammunition, and Conspiracy to Commit Witness Tampering, all in connection with an incident that occurred in Jackson Township on June 27, 2024.
“This action handcuffs our brave police officers’ ability to do their jobs and keep Jackson safe,” said Jackson Councilman Mordy Burnstein. “It is unfathomable that you can be part of such a violent assault and be let back on the streets. Our community and our dedicated police officers deserve better. Unfortunately, as they say, elections have consequences and bail reform isn’t working for anyone but the criminals in New Jersey.”
Additionally, Noah Phelps, 24, of Monroe Township, was indicted for Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder, and Glenn Franzson, 32, of Jackson Township, was indicted for Conspiracy to Commit Witness Tampering, Possession of a Weapon Without a Serial Number, Possession of a High-Capacity Ammunition Magazine, Possession of Cocaine, and Possession of Methamphetamine, all in connection with the same incident.
“The three perpetrators who beat up and shot a guy in the face on Larsen Rd. in Jackson should be in prison. Under NJ’s bail reform, the criminals were recently released,” said Jackson Councilman Nino Borrelli. “We are hearing these kind of stories across the state. NJ’s bail reform is making some of the state’s safest towns like Jackson more unsafe and preventing our Police Dept. from effectively fighting crime. Dangerous criminals should remain in jail until trial, not released to possibly commit more violent crime. It’s insane policy and needs to be reversed by the state.”
On June 27, 2024, at approximately 12:20 a.m., Officers from the Jackson Township Police Department responded to the area of Larsen Road for a report of a male having suffered a gunshot wound. Responding Officers found a 27 year-old male with a gunshot wound to his face. The victim was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for treatment of his injuries; he was treated and subsequently released.
An investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Jackson Township Police Department, and Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, revealed that the victim and a female were sitting in a parked vehicle outside of a residence on Larsen Road. A blue sedan then parked in front of the vehicle – blocking it in. Two males exited the blue sedan, approached the vehicle and knocked on the window. As the victim was exiting the vehicle, one of the assailants began to strike him. During the assault, one of the assailants shot the victim in the face. The assailants then fled the area.
Further investigation revealed that Michael Vulpis, 26, of Freehold Borough, was the individual who shot the victim. On July 3, 2024, Vulpis was taken into custody at his residence without incident, and charged with Attempted Murder, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, and being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he has been lodged since his arrest.
Continuing investigation revealed that Phelps was the second assailant involved in the attack on the victim, and that Phelps and Vulpis conspired to attack him. As such, on August 15, 2024, Phelps was charged with Attempted Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder; a warrant for his arrest was issued, and his name was entered in the National Crime Information Center database. On August 16, 2024, Phelps surrendered himself to the Freehold Township Police Department. He was transported to the Ocean County Jail and subsequently released as a consequence of New Jersey Bail Reform.