Wildwood Man Sentenced to 18 Years for 2024 Shooting of Foreign Exchange Student

William Hoyle convicted for shooting Vilte Gruzdyte, a 20-year-old visiting the U.S. on a student visa.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:52pm

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A 42-year-old Wildwood, New Jersey man named William Hoyle was sentenced to 18 years in prison this week for the 2024 shooting of Vilte Gruzdyte, a 20-year-old foreign exchange student visiting the country on a student visa. Hoyle was arrested two days after the incident, in which Gruzdyte was struck in the head when Hoyle fired a gun around 10:30 p.m.

Why it matters

The shooting of a foreign exchange student highlights the need for improved safety measures and community outreach programs to protect vulnerable international visitors, especially in light of rising gun violence in some U.S. cities.

The details

According to BreakingAC.com, William Hoyle was convicted and sentenced to 18 years in prison this week for the 2024 shooting of Vilte Gruzdyte, a 20-year-old foreign exchange student from Lithuania who was visiting the U.S. on a student visa. Hoyle was arrested two days after the incident, in which Gruzdyte was struck in the head when Hoyle fired a gun around 10:30 p.m. in Wildwood, New Jersey.

  • The shooting occurred on an evening in 2024.
  • Hoyle was arrested two days after the incident.

The players

William Hoyle

A 42-year-old man from Wildwood, New Jersey who was convicted and sentenced to 18 years in prison for the 2024 shooting of a foreign exchange student.

Vilte Gruzdyte

A 20-year-old foreign exchange student from Lithuania who was visiting the U.S. on a student visa and was struck in the head when Hoyle fired a gun in 2024.

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The takeaway

This case underscores the need for improved safety measures and community outreach programs to protect international students and visitors, especially in light of rising gun violence in some U.S. cities.