Mom of 3 blinded after being shot during road rage incident
Share and Follow

Background: News footage of the Sept. 11 road rage incident that injured Maritza Arias-Galva (WCAU). Inset: Ernest Heinz (Galloway Township Police Department).

A New Jersey woman may be permanently blinded after she was allegedly shot by a man who threatened to kill her during a road rage incident.

According to the Galloway Township Police Department, 46-year-old Ernest Heinz was taken into custody hours after he allegedly shot Maritza Arias-Galva on Sept. 11. Arias-Galva suffered a gunshot wound to the face, but remained conscious and was able to describe the man who allegedly cut her off while driving then pulled up next to her and threatened to kill her. The mother of three is still recovering after she was hospitalized.

Arias-Galva”s son told Philadelphia-based NBC affiliate WCAU that Heinz reportedly warned his mother, “I’m going to kill you today. Today, I’m gonna take care of you,” before firing one shot through the window of her car.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by WCAU, Arias-Galva was driving when Heinz raced ahead of her and cut her off while she was trying to merge. When the two vehicles were side-by-side at a red light, Heinz allegedly yelled to Arias-Galva and threatened to kill her before aiming a gun at her. Arias-Galva rolled up her window, but Heinz fired, shattering the window and hitting her in the face, causing serious injury to her eye, police said.

The alleged incident was near Stockton University, where Heinz allegedly fled. The police’s search for Heinz prompted an hourslong lockdown on campus. Heinz was arrested at his home later the same day. He was charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Heinz works as an actor and has appeared in small roles on television and in movies, including “The Sopranos,” “Resident Evil,” and “The Prestige.” He is currently being held at the Atlantic County Justice Facility without bail. He is scheduled for a pretrial detention hearing on Tuesday.

Arias-Galva’s son, Victor Feliz-Alvarez, told WCAU that he wants “justice” for his mother, adding, “Lock him up and don’t let him out.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Tragic Birthday Celebration: 75-Year-Old Woman and Son Shot in Shocking Incident

Inset: Angelo Garcia (Miami Dade Corrections & Rehabilitation Center). Background: The front…

Unraveling the Mystery: The Unsolved Enigma of the Boston Strangler

Back in the early 1960s, a wave of terror swept through Boston…

Tragic Road Rage Incident Claims Life of Delivery Driver Grandfather

Left inset: Laken Logan (Jackson County Sheriff’s Office). Right inset: Cleveland Wright…

Urgent Alert: Help Find Missing 71-Year-Old Man from Umatilla Indian Reservation

The Umatilla Tribal Police Department is actively seeking assistance from the public…

Life Sentence for Man Convicted in Tragic Double Homicide of Girlfriend and Her Daughter

Left inset: Rene Mendez. Right inset: Sylvia Ramos, left and Brianna Ramos.…

Tragic Hit-and-Run in Los Angeles: $50K Reward Offered for Leads in Elderly Woman’s Death

Authorities are on the hunt for the driver of a black Audi…

Breaking: Tragic Incident Leaves One Dead, Six Injured at Pennsylvania University Homecoming Celebration

A night meant for celebration quickly turned into a scene of chaos…

Shocking Arrest: Man on Pre-Trial Release Charged with Assault Using Camp Saw

Staff Report GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Authorities detained Brandon Levelle Lindsey, aged 40,…