Jersey City Convicted Felon Charged With Gun Crimes After Shooting Himself

Sunday, September 28, 2025, 8:45 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

ENGLEWOOD, NJ.- Last Friday, following an investigation, a 40-year-old Jersey City, New Jersey, man and convicted felon was taken into custody and jailed after being charged with multiple firearms offenses. After Police Officers responded to a Bergen County hospital after receiving a report of an individual arriving at the hospital requesting treatment for a gunshot wound.

     According to Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, on Friday, September 19, 2025, just shortly before 6:30 p.m., members of the Englewood Police Department responded to Englewood Hospital after an individual arrived at the hospital with an apparent gunshot wound. Upon arrival, Police Officers located Joel Galvis, 40, of Jersey City, New Jersey, who was seeking treatment for a gunshot wound to his leg, and an investigation was launched.

     During the investigation, Detectives of the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit and the Englewood Police Department quickly determined that Galvis had shot himself in the leg and then driven himself to the hospital. 

Detectives Search Galvis’ Vehicle And Find Two Handguns

     Detectives obtained and executed a court-authorized search of Galvis’ vehicle, which Detectives were able to locate nearby. During the search, Detectives found two firearms and a high-capacity ammunition magazine inside the vehicle. During a subsequent inspection of the firearms, Detectives determined that one of the handguns contained a defaced serial number.

Galvis Is Formally Charged And Jailed

     Accordingly, on Friday, September 19, 2025, Galvis was formally charged with two counts of second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Firearm; one count of second-degree Certain Persons Not Possess Weapons; one count of fourth-degree Possession of a Defaced Firearm; and one count of fourth-degree Possession of a High-Capacity Ammunition Magazine.

     Galvis was taken into custody after being treated for his injury. He was processed on the charges and remanded to the Bergen County Jail pending future court proceedings in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, New Jersey.

“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”