The Freehold Township man who was the victim of an unprovoked attack which law enforcement authorities said may have been racially motivated has died.
The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office reported that Jerry Wolkowitz, 56, died on Oct. 18. Wolkowitz had been hospitalized since he was attacked in the parking lot of his Freehold Township residence on May 1. He died at AcuteCare Specialty Hospital at Kimball, Lakewood.
Jamil S. Hubbard, 25, of Sayreville, has been indicted by a Monmouth County grand jury and charged with attempted murder, bias intimidation, armed robbery, possession of a weapon (a motor vehicle) for an unlawful purpose, theft of movable property and eluding police in connection with the attack on Wolkowitz.
Hubbard was arrested at his home in Sayreville on the day of the attack and has remained jailed since then.
Following Wolkowitz’s death, a spokesman for the prosecutor said the charges that have been lodged against Hubbard will be reviewed and could be amended.
Sharon Shutzer, a member of the Borough Council in Freehold Borough, knew Wolkowitz and said, “There truly is a special place in hell for the person who did this to him. Jerry was a gentle soul who certainly did not deserve this.”
Noel Olivarius is the chaplain of the Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad, of which Wolkowitz was a member for more than 25 years. Olivarius said that when she joined the squad, Wolkowitz was her partner on the overnight shift.
“The life members of the squad who knew Jerry for many years are absolutely beside themselves. It’s a tragic story,” she said. “The whole situation is beyond words. Jerry did not have any hate in him. He suffered for six months. His family was at his bedside nonstop and they never expressed any hate for the person who did this. They held out hope for a recovery,” Olivarius said.
“When I joined the first aid squad, Jerry encouraged me. He was always so kind and welcoming and he befriended people,” she said. “At the end, at his passing, it was a tragic blessing.”
Olivarius said that at the request of the family, a scholarship for an emergency medical technician will be established in Wolkowitz’s name. A fundraiser will be held on a date to be announced, she said, adding, “Those are his family’s wishes.”
On May 1 at 7:15 a.m., Freehold Township police were dispatched to a Harding Road apartment complex on the east side of the municipality. Responding officers observed Wolkowitz lying in the parking lot with injuries to his head and body.
An investigation conducted by the prosecutor’s office and the Freehold Township Police Department revealed that Hubbard allegedly approached Wolkowitz from behind and used his fists to hit Wolkowitz on his head and face, before dragging him into the parking lot.
Hubbard then allegedly drove his own motor vehicle over Wolkowitz. Hubbard then stole Wolkowitz’s car, which was later discovered abandoned on Bordentown Avenue in Sayreville, Middlesex County.
Hubbard was apprehended at his home later that same day by members of the Sayreville Police Department.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said the investigation determined Hubbard did not know or have any previous contact with Wolkowitz prior to the May 1 attack.
According to the indictment, the grand jurors allege Hubbard committed the crime of bias intimidation … “with a purpose to intimidate Wolkowitz, because of Wolkowitz’s race or color, and/or knowing the conduct constituting the offense would cause an individual or group of individuals to be intimidated because of race or color,” contrary to state law.
Wolkowitz is white and Hubbard is black.
During his professional career as a news photographer, Wolkowitz had worked for Greater Media Newspapers, which was later purchased by Newspaper Media Group and publishes the News Transcript. He was a member of the New Jersey Press Photographers Association, according to his obituary from the Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold.
Wolkowitz is survived by his mother, Martha Wolkowitz; his sisters, Judy Marcus and husband Steven Fried, Goldie Markowitz and husband Frank, a brother, Perry Wolkowitz and wife Cindy; six nieces and nephews, and six great nieces and nephews; and his fiancé Peggie Zorovich.
Funeral services were held at the Perrineville Jewish Center, Millstone Township, on Oct. 19, followed by interment at the Perrineville Jewish Cemetery.
