William Hoyle
A Wildwood man was sentenced to 18 years in prison this week in the 2024 shooting of a woman visiting the country from Lithuania on a student visa.
William Hoyle, now 42, was arrested two days after Vilte Gruzdyte, then 20, was struck in the head when he fired a gun around 10:30 p.m. July 9, 2024, in the area of the Cattle 'n Clover Irish Pub at 3817 Pacific Ave. in Wildwood.
An investigation found Gruzdyte was not the intended target.
She was taken to the AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center for treatment, where he was listed in critical condition and on life support at that time. Her current condition has not been released.
An investigation by Wildwood police and the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office led to a warranted search with Cape May County Regional SWAT at a home in the 4700 block of Pacific Avenue the day after the shooting, BreakingAC reported at the time.
Police recovered the clothing believed to be worn by the shooter, along with a 9mm handgun.
Hoyle was charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, including possession of a weapon by a certain person due to prior convictions.
He turned himself in at the Camden County Police Department in Camden, and was picked up by Wildwood police and members of the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office.
He has been jailed since that time.
Hoyle pleaded guilty Jan. 28, court records show.
This will be at least Hoyle's third prison stint.
Hoyle served a four-year sentence from a 2009 cocaine arrest, according to court records. He then served 365 days in prison in 2022 for an aggravated assault with a deadly weapon case.
