GALLOWAY TWP., N.J. (WPHL) — Actor Ernest Wesley Heinz is accused of being responsible for a shooting near Stockton University that sent the school into lockdown and one woman to the hospital on Thursday.
Friday afternoon, the Galloway Township Police Department announced Heinz, 46, of Port Republic, New Jersey, is facing charges after the road-rage-related incident.
According to Heinz’s IMDb profile, he has been featured in uncredited and minor roles in film and TV, including “J. Edgar,” “Resident Evil 5,” and “The Sopranos.”
The Galloway Township Police Department said the shooting happened before 1 p.m. on W. Jimmie Leeds Road near Redwood Avenue. A woman called 911 and said she had been shot in the face by a male suspect, who got away and was headed northbound.
Shortly after, law enforcement ordered students and staff to shelter in place when they got word that the suspect tried getting away through the campus.
The lockdown was lifted four hours later. Police executed search warrants at three homes in Port Republic, a home in Galloway Township, and two vehicles. Around 5 p.m., investigators announced that the suspect, now identified as Heinz, was found and arrested at a local housing development.
Stockton University’s president, Joe Bertolino, thanked students and staff for their cooperation and calm in a statement on Thursday.
“The decision to issue the directive was made out of an abundance of caution, following notification from the Stockton University Police Department of a reported shooting incident in the surrounding off-campus area,” Bertolino’s statement read in part. “I recognize how unsettling it can be to receive an alert like that, and I want to commend you for your patience, understanding, and commitment to following the guidance provided.”
Police charged Heinz with attempted homicide as well as multiple assault and weapons-related charges.