“I was thinking, I need to survive this. I’m the only family they have in New Jersey,” Maritza Arias-Galva, a mom, said about the shooting
An actor has been accused of shooting a woman in the face during a road rage incident in New Jersey.
On Thursday, Sept. 11, Ernest W. Heinz, 46, was arrested by the Galloway Township Police Department, according to a statement shared on Facebook.
He was charged with criminal attempt homicide, aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose in relation to the shooting of Maritza Arias-Galva.
According to authorities, Arias-Galva called police to report that she had been shot by a man while driving near Stockton University.
“Officers of the Galloway Township Police Department responded to a 911 call for a shooting. The Victim, Maritza Arias-Galva called 911 to report she had been shot in the face by a male subject, in another vehicle, who fled north onto Vera King Ferris Drive, on the campus of Stockton University. It was later determined the shooting was the result of an isolated road-rage incident,” the statement read.
Arias-Galva described the attacker “as a White male, with blonde hair in a ponytail” and told police that he was driving a white Honda SUV.
She received treatment at the Atlanticare Regional Medical Center, City Division, and authorities confirmed that she was “currently in stable condition and recovering from the injury.”
Using the information from the victim’s description, authorities launched a search, eventually finding Heinz “at a residence in the Blue Heron Pines Development in Galloway Township.”
He was arrested and taken to the Atlantic County Justice Facility.
“The prompt and professional actions of our officers resulted in a quick apprehension of Mr. Heinz” Chief Eric B. Hendrickson said in the release, thanking the Stockton University Police Department, the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, the New Jersey State Police and all of the Atlantic County Agencies for their support in the investigation. “We wish Ms. Arias-Galva a swift recovery, and we are here to support our community following this senseless incident.”
Ernest W. Heinz Actor charged in road rage shooting that led to lockdown at Stockton University
Scene of road rage incident in Philadelphia on Sept. 11, 2025.
ABC affiliate WPVI reported that the shooting took place at around 12:50 p.m. local time, citing court documents.
Arias-Galva said that she had been cut off by Heinz, who proceeded to threaten her with death and then allegedly shot her.
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“Fortunately, it didn’t look like it caught anything major and she was able to maintain consciousness and speak to our officers. We’re very grateful she’s okay,” Capt. Mark D’Esposito told the outlet, adding that the suspect only fired one shot.
On Saturday, Sept. 13, Arias-Galva spoke to The Philadelphia Inquirer while recovering at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. She told the outlet that she tried not to engage with the suspect.
“I know that kind of person, because I work customer service. I just said, ‘Thank you, sir.’ And he said he was taking my life today,” she recalled.
She added that she was “thinking about [her] kids” while calling the police. “I was thinking, I need to survive this. I’m the only family they have in New Jersey.”
According to his profile on IMDb, Heinz worked as an actor and has a handful of credits through 2014. Notably, he was involved in two Resident Evil video games and played a role in 2011’s J. Edgar.
PEOPLE contacted the Galloway Township Police Department for additional comment on the case.
