A Monmouth County grand jury has returned a seven-count indictment adding charges of murder and felony murder against a Sayreville man in the killing of Jerry Wolkowitz, 56, of Freehold Township.
Wolkowitz was a former news and sports photographer for Greater Media Newspapers, which was later purchased by Donnelly Media Group and publishes the News Transcript. Wolkowitz was a longtime member of the Freehold First Aid and Emergency Squad.
Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced on March 11 that Jamil S. Hubbard, 26, of Sayreville, has now been charged with first degree murder and first degree felony murder in connection with a May 1, 2018 attack on Wolkowitz.
On July 9, 2018, the grand jury returned an indictment against Hubbard related to the assault on Wolkowitz, who was still in a hospital at that time.
On Oct 18, 2018, Wolkowitz died from the injuries he sustained in the attack five-and-a-half months earlier. He had remained hospitalized until his passing.
Hubbard now stands accused of murder and felony murder.
Gramiccioni previously provided the following account of the incident: On May 1 at 7:15 a.m., Freehold Township police were dispatched to an apartment complex off Route 537. Responding officers observed Wolkowitz, who was a resident of the apartment complex, 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 determined 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.
Hubbard was apprehended at his Sayreville home later that same day by members of the Sayreville Police Department. He has remained in custody since his arrest.
Gramiccioni said the investigation determined Hubbard did not know or have any previous contact with Wolkowitz prior to the attack.
According to the July 9, 2018, 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 was white and Hubbard is black.
In addition to being indicted on charges of murder, felony murder and bias intimidation, Hubbard has also been indicted on charges of armed robbery, eluding police, possession of a weapon (a motor vehicle) for an unlawful purpose and theft of movable property (stealing Wolkowitz’s car).
The March 11 indictment states that the charge of eluding police is based on Hubbard’s alleged failure to stop the motor vehicle he was driving when he was directed to do so by police officers in Freehold Township, Colts Neck and Marlboro on May 1, 2018.
