Man Sought in Heights Shooting Arrested in Phila.

PRESS RELEASE
July 1, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bernie Weisenfeld- PIO

Joseph Evola, (DOB 10/4/68) formerly of Lumberton NJ, wanted in connection with the shooting and wounding of a Woodbury Heights NJ man outside his home on Monday (6/27), has been arrested in Philadelphia.

The 2:45 p.m. arrest Thursday (6/30) at a pizza shop at 2461 Grant Ave. in Northeast Philadelphia was by members of the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s fugitive unit and members of the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force in Camden. It was without incident. Evola was not carrying a weapon.

Evola is charged with two counts of aggravated assault- one with a deadly weapon, unlawful possession of a handgun, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, theft and eluding police. Evola fled from the scene of the shooting on Park Avenue in Woodbury Heights in a vehicle stolen in Philadelphia, which he crashed at a Gloucester City NJ exit of Route 676. He then fled from the crashed car.

Bail for Evola was set at $75,000 on the New Jersey charges. He is being held in Philadelphia on a fugitive warrant pending an extradition hearing.

The 52-year-old victim was wounded in the thigh and a finger by a shot fired from a 9 mm handgun. He was treated at Cooper Medical Center in Camden and released the evening of the shooting. The incident occurred when the victim left his home to investigate his son’s report of a stranger in a car outside the residence.

“We are pleased to get this dangerous individual off the streets, thanks to the outstanding work of the U.S. Marshals, the Woodbury Heights Police Department and the GCPO fugitive unit,” said Prosecutor Sean F. Dalton.