Man Indicted In Bias Attack; Freehold Photographer Still In Coma

FREEHOLD, NJ — More than two months after a Freehold Township photographer was beaten and left in a coma in what prosecutors say was a racially motivated attack, family and friends of Jerry Wolkowitz are struggling to understand why someone would have attacked him.

That someone, authorities allege, is Jamil S. Hubbard, 25, of Sayreville. Hubbard has been indicted by a Monmouth County grand jury on charges of first-degree attempted murder, third-degree possession of a weapon (a motor vehicle) for an unlawful purpose and first-degree bias intimidation, in connection with the May 1 early morning attack, Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said Wednesday.

Hubbard is scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said Tuesday in a tweet. The detention hearing had been scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed.

The brutal assault occurred in the parking lot of Wolkowitz's home in a Harding Road apartment complex, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said in May.

"As Jerry remains in a coma and still on a respirator, I am still desperately trying to understand how such a senseless act of extreme violence could have befallen my gentle and caring brother," Wolkowitz's sister, Goldie, posted on a GoFundme campaign created to help raise funds for his medical and legal expenses. (READ MORE: Man Charged With Race-Based Beating Of Freehold Photographer)

Wolkowitz, 56, a professional photographer who also has been a freelance photojournalist for more than 30 years, was found lying in the parking lot of his apartment complex with injuries to his head and body about 7:15 a.m. on May 1 by Freehold Township police.

Prosecutors allege Hubbard approached Wolkowitz from behind and punched him in the head and face before dragging him into the parking lot, then ran over Wolkowitz with a motor vehicle and then stole Wolkowitz's car, Gramiccioni said. Wolkowitz's car was later discovered abandoned on Bordentown Avenue in Sayreville, Gramiccioni said.

Hubbard was arrested at his home later that same day by Sayreville police officers, Gramiccioni said. He said investigators determined Hubbard did not know or have previous contact with Wolkowitz before he allegedly attacked him.

On the GoFundme campaign, family and friends said Wolkowitz also had been a volunteer for the Freehold First Aid Squad and a driver for SAS Ambulance.

"Jerry is dedicated to helping others and has touched so many lives," they wrote. "He is kind-hearted and highly devoted to his family and friends."

"We continue our daily prayer vigils and have to believe that a miracle can happen so that he may open his eyes and be with us again," his sister, Goldie wrote in another update, The two are twins and turned 56 years old in late June. "Please continue to keep Jerry in your thoughts and prayers. Please let love win and not hate. Please let only goodness and kindness in as that is what Jerry would have done."

"Please help to continue to share this page and his story so the world will never forget," she wrote.

Click here to contribute to the GoFundme to help with Wolkowitz's medical and legal expenses.

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Photo courtesy of GoFundme, a Patch partner