Wildwood Man, Accused Of Injuring Bystander In Shooting, Now In Custody: Prosecutor

WILDWOOD, NJ — The man accused of critically injuring an innocent bystander in a Jersey Shore shooting is now in custody after turning himself in, authorities said.

Wildwood resident William Hoyle was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses for Tuesday's shooting, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland and Chief Joseph Murphy of the Wildwood Police Department said.

Shots were fired near 3817 Pacific Ave. on July 9 shortly before 10:30 p.m., Sutherland and Murphy said.

When officers arrived, they found a 20-year-old woman who had been shot in the head. She was later identified as Vilte Gruzdyte, a Lithuanian citizen in the U.S. on a student visa, authorities said. She was taken to the Atlantic City Medical Center, where she remains in critical condition and on life support measures, officials said.

Police learned the suspect in the shooting, then unidentified, had fled the scene, officials said.

An investigation was immediately launched. In the morning of July 10, the Cape May County Regional SWAT Team executed a court authorized search warrant on a home on the 4700 block of Pacific Avenue, authorities said.

As a result of the warrant and continued investigation, the clothing believed to be worn by the shooter and a 9mm handgun were recovered as evidence. Also, as a result of this search warrant, David L. Johnson, 45, was charged with hindering apprehension, a crime of the third degree, and released on a summons pending court proceedings.

Hoyle was identified as the alleged shooter and a number of charges were filed against him as an "intense man hunt" began, authorities said.

Hoyle turned himself in Thursday afternoon in Camden, and was taken to to the Cape May County Correctional Facility where he was remains pending court proceedings, officials said.

Gruzdyte was an innocent bystander and not Hoyle's intended target, Sutherland said.

"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," Sutherland said.

Sutherland commended the cooperation and the intensive investigative efforts of all the detectives and all the law enforcement agencies who assisted the Wildwood Police Department on the night of the shooting involved in this investigation, as well as members of the prosecutor's department's Victims Witness Unit who are providing support and assistance to Gruzdyte's family.

Sutherland also said that this investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.
He urged anyone with information regarding this shooting to contact the Major Crimes Unit of the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office at 609-465-1135, the Wildwood Police Department at 609-522-0222, or anonymously on the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office website at cmcpo.tips. Information can also be anonymously sent to the Cape May County Sheriff's Tip line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-889-3597.