Man Arrested for Attempted Murder in Wildwood Shooting

Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey H. Sutherland and Chief Joseph Murphy of the Wildwood Police Department have announced the arrest of 40-year-old William Hoyle, a Wildwood resident, on charges including attempted murder, aggravated assault, and weapons-related offenses.

The arrest followed an incident on July 9, 2024, when Wildwood patrol officers responded to a report of shots fired at 10:26 PM in the area of 3817 Pacific Avenue.

Upon arrival, officers discovered Vilte Gruzdyte, a 20-year-old Lithuanian citizen, who had been shot in the head.

Gruzdyte was promptly transported to the Atlantic City Medical Center and remains in critical condition on life support.

The investigation revealed that the shooter, initially unidentified, had fled the scene.

Detectives from the Wildwood Police Department and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office launched a thorough investigation.

The following morning, the Cape May County Regional SWAT Team executed a search warrant at a residence in the 4700 block of Pacific Avenue.

This operation led to the recovery of clothing believed to be worn by the shooter and a 9mm handgun.

During the search, David L. Johnson, a 45-year-old male, was charged with hindering apprehension and released on a summons pending court proceedings.

On July 10, 2024, the shooter was identified as William Hoyle, who resides in the 200 East block of Cresse Avenue, Wildwood, NJ. The charges filed against Hoyle include:

Attempted Murder (first degree)
Aggravated Assault (second degree)
Certain Persons not to Possess a Weapon (second degree)
Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (second degree)
Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purposes (second degree)
Possession of an Untraceable Firearm (third degree)
Possession of a High-Capacity Magazine (fourth degree)

An intense manhunt ensued, culminating in Hoyle surrendering to the Camden Police Department on the afternoon of July 11, 2024.

Detectives from the Wildwood Police Department and the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office took Hoyle into custody in Camden.

He was subsequently processed and transported to the Cape May County Correctional Facility, where he remains pending court proceedings.

Prosecutor Sutherland confirmed that Gruzdyte, who was visiting the US on a student visa, was an innocent bystander and not Hoyle’s intended target.

He stated, “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 praised the collaborative efforts of all detectives and law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation, as well as the Victims Witness Unit for supporting Gruzdyte’s family. He also mentioned that the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.

Anyone with information regarding the shooting is urged 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.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously to the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip line at cmcsheriff.net, or through Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-889-3597.