Ernest Heinz, a 47-year-old New Jersey man, faces 31 felony counts after allegedly shooting 42-year-old Maritza Arias-Galva in the face during a September 11 road rage incident on the Garden State Parkway, severely injuring her eye and risking blindness.[query] Driving a white Honda CR-V, Heinz cut her off, screamed death threats like “I’m going to kill you today,” and fired through her car window as she raised it.[query]
Post-Shooting Actions
Surveillance showed Heinz returning to his Galloway Township parents’ home 10 minutes later carrying a small gun matching the victim’s description, then leaving with a black rifle case and red bag to drop weapons at an acquaintance’s storage facility.[query] Police recovered a cache of firearms there, including one registered to his father; Heinz, prohibited from owning guns due to a domestic violence restraining order, faces added charges of hindering apprehension and evidence tampering.[query]
Background and Status
A former actor with roles in “The Sopranos,” “Resident Evil,” and “The Prestige,” Heinz had returned to New Jersey to care for his parents.[query] He has remained in Atlantic County Justice Facility custody without bond since his September arrest, which prompted a Stockton University lockdown; his next court date is January 30, 2026.
