Man caught in Wildwood shooting
WILDWOOD — A city man has been arrested after allegedly shooting a 20-year-old foreign worker in the head, the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office said Friday.
Detectives from Wildwood and the Prosecutor's Office took William Hoyle, 40, into custody Thursday at the Camden Police Department, where he had turned himself in Thursday afternoon, the Prosecutor's Office said in a news release.
The arrest came after an extensive manhunt, authorities said, which included a SWAT team raid on a Pacific Avenue home Wednesday morning.
Police received a report of shots fired at 10:26 p.m. Tuesday near the Cattle 'n Clover pub and steakhouse on Pacific Avenue. The victim was transported to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City with a gunshot wound to the head. She was later identified as Vilte Gruzdyte, a Lithuanian citizen visiting the country on a J-1 student visa. The alleged shooter had fled the scene, police said.
As of Friday, Gruzdyte remained in critical condition and on life support at the hospital. According to authorities, she was not the intended target but was instead a bystander.
"This is a tragic incident, and we are all as a community praying for Vilte and her family. Our office is taking all measures to make sure justice is served in this matter," county Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland said.
An investigation by Wildwood police and the Prosecutor's Office led to a home in the 4700 block of Pacific Avenue, where the search warrant was executed. Police said they found a 9mm handgun and clothing believed to have been worn by the assailant.
Police also charged David L. Johnson, 45, with hindering apprehension in the shooting. Johnson was released on a summons pending court.
On Wednesday, police filed charges against Hoyle, a resident of the 200 block of Cresse Avenue, including attempted murder, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes, being a person not legally allowed to possess a weapon, possession of an untraceable firearm and possession of a high-capacity magazine.
Hoyle was taken to the Cape May County jail.
The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed, Sutherland said. Anyone with information can call the Prosecutor's Office at 609-465-1135, Wildwood police at 609-522-0222 or Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-889-3597. Tipsters also can share information at cmcpo.tips or cmcsheriff.net.
Contact Bill Barlow: 609-272-7290 [email protected] Twitter @jerseynews_bill