Man shot in face in jackson was ex-pagan's mc member, gunman was local chapter outlaw

Jackson Township, NJ – In what can be described only as a scene out of the fictional television show Sons of Anarchy, three members of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club were involved in a plot to kill a former member of the club.

According to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s office, the victim, Michael Moores, was targeted as part of a violent witness tampering effort by Michael Vulpis, Glenn Franzion, and Noah Phelps, all members of local chapters of the One Percenter motorcycle club.

That club has been engaged in violent acts across New Jersey in recent months, according to NJ.com.

Two members, Franzion and Phelps, have been released from jail due to New Jersey’s Bail Reform Act.

Jackson officials this week expressed frustration with the New Jersey legal system, which allows violent and dangerous criminals to be released from jail while they are awaiting trial.

Vulpis is a member of the Freehold chapter of the club. Franzion is a member of the Ocean County chapter.

Last week, a grand jury in Ocean County indicted three men in connection with what prosecutors have described as an attempted murder during the summer of 2024 in Jackson Township. The incident, which took place on June 27, involved a 27-year-old man being shot in the face, reportedly as part of a violent conflict with members of a notorious motorcycle club.

Michael Vulpis, 26, of Freehold, has been in jail since July 3 following his arrest for the shooting. Vulpis, along with Noah Phelps, 24, of Monroe, is now facing charges of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Prosecutors allege that the shooting stemmed from an ongoing conflict between Vulpis, a known member of the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club, and the victim, who is believed to be a former member of the group. According to reports, the victim had been expelled from the club prior to the attack.

While law enforcement officials have not officially confirmed that the case is linked to what the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation has described as the “Pagan’s outlaw motorcycle gang,” the connection is widely suspected.

Vulpis’ arrest and subsequent indictment follow years of heightened tension involving members of the Pagan’s in the area.

Adding to the complexity of the case, a third man, Glenn Franzson, 32, of Jackson, has been charged with attempting to influence the victim to lie to police about the events of the night.

Franzson faces charges of conspiracy to commit witness tampering, as well as additional drug and weapons-related charges. When law enforcement searched his home, they recovered a firearm without a serial number, commonly referred to as a “ghost gun,” as well as cocaine, methamphetamine, and a high-capacity ammunition magazine.

The June 27 incident occurred in the early hours of the morning on Larsen Road in Jackson. Police responding to a call found the victim shot in the face but still alive.

Investigators determined that the victim had been sitting in a parked car with a woman when a blue sedan pulled up and blocked their vehicle. Vulpis and Phelps allegedly approached the car, assaulted the victim, and then shot him.

Both Vulpis and Phelps face additional charges, including possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and conspiracy to commit witness tampering. Vulpis also faces charges of being a certain person not permitted to possess a weapon or ammunition due to his prior criminal record.

The case has sparked concerns about the Pagan’s Motorcycle Club’s presence in local communities, with residents of nearby Monmouth County speaking out about the group’s violent behavior. In one instance, Michael Murphy, a Freehold resident, recounted how his neighborhood had been plagued by club members, prompting him to run for local office in November. According to Murphy, up to 30 members of the group would gather on his street, causing fear among residents, especially children.

The Pagan’s are reportedly having a statewide event in Seaside Heights this weekend at the Hershey Motel. We reached out to Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy and have not received a response. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office has also not responded to requests for additional details regarding this incident.

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