09/07/2026
WILDWOOD, NJ - On Saturday, September 5, 2026, patrol officers from the Wildwood Police Department observed a maroon Chrysler traveling eastbound on Rio Grande Avenue, while committing several motor vehicle violations. The officers also observed that a portion of the vehicle's Pennsylvania registration plate had been covered with black tape, a tactic commonly used to avoid detection by police.
Patrol officers conducted a motor vehicle stop, with the vehicle, in the area of Andrews and Ocean Avenues. The driver was identified as Donald R. Jones, 18, of Downingtown, Pennsylvania. The vehicle was also occupied by Maurice L. Bullock Jr., 21, of Exton, Pennsylvania and a 17-year-old juvenile, also of Pennsylvania.
During the investigation, officers observed a black handgun inside a cross-body bag that Bullock had removed from the vehicle. Officers secured the occupants, and rendered the weapon safe. The handgun was identified as a loaded .45-caliber G***k, Model 21, equipped with a conversion device, commonly referred to as a "switch." The device is designed to convert a semiautomatic handgun into a fully automatic firearm. Officers also recovered an extended 30 round capacity magazine and hollow-point ammunition from the bag.
A subsequent protective sweep of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of a second firearm, a loaded Tarus 9mm caliber handgun located, in a separate bag, in the front passenger area. The handgun was equipped with a large-capacity magazine containing full-metal-jacket, and hollow-point ammunition. A records check confirmed that the Ta**us handgun had been reported stolen.
Jones, Bullock, and the juvenile were taken into custody, and charged with various offenses, including Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose, Possession of a Machine Gun, Possession of a Large-Capacity Ammunition Magazine, Possession of Hollow-Point Ammunition, Receiving Stolen Property, and Possession of a Firearm by a Minor. Multiple motor vehicle summonses were also issued as a result of the investigation.
Chief Joseph Murphy stated, “ I could not be more proud of the continued proactive, and vigilant work of these officers. Taking an illegal firearm off the street is always a significant arrest. However, this firearm had been modified in such a way to allow for fully automatic functioning that, combined with the extended magazine capacity, led us to only one conclusion: that the weapon was intended to cause harm to individuals. I commend these officers for continually putting themselves in harm's way to combat public safety issues such as these.”
Jones and Bullock were processed on warrant complaints and lodged in the Cape May County Correctional Facility pending court proceedings. The juvenile was processed in accordance with New Jersey juvenile justice procedures and later released to an adult family member.
The charges were filed following a finding of probable cause in accordance with the New Jersey Attorney General's Criminal Justice Policies and Directives. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
