Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Manchester Township Chief of Police Lisa Parker have announced that Thomas Hatchett, 86, of Manchester Township, was arrested last night and charged with Murder in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3a(1) and Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4a(1).
Officials say on July 1st Manchester Township Police were summoned to a Manchester residence by a 911 call in reference to a male victim lying face down in the street.
Officers found the victim to be bleeding from his head and to have gunshot wounds to his back.
They also observed what appeared to be a bullet hole through the front door of the residence. The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Regional SWAT Team responded to assist.
The SWAT Team made entry to the house and found it to be unoccupied. Investigation revealed that the owner of the house was Thomas Hatchett.
A further investigation revealed that Hatchett has an address in Verona.
The Verona Police Department were contacted and located Hatchett. He was transported to the Verona Police Department for an interview. Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and the Manchester Township Police Department interviewed Hatchett, and he was subsequently arrested and charged.
He was transported to the Manchester Township Police Department to be processed and is currently lodged in the Ocean County Jail.
The victim has been identified as Igal Hedad, 71, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Prosecutor Billhimer and Chief Parker would like to acknowledge the excellent collaboration of law enforcement agencies that acted swiftly and diligently to investigate this matter and locate Hatchett.
The Prosecutor and Chief Parker thank the Detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Regional SWAT Team, the Manchester Township Police Department, the Verona Police Department, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department Crime Scene Investigation Unit.
Prosecutor Billhimer stated: “Detectives from all of these agencies were on scene all day and traveled to Verona last night once Hatchett was located. I really can’t say enough to praise their efforts, an amazing job by all involved.” Chief Parker added: “Our Detectives worked side by side with Detectives from the Prosecutor’s Major Crime Unit all day and night to make sure that we solved this horrific crime as quickly as possible.”