Murder Charge For Man, 86, In Manchester Adult Community Shooting

MANCHESTER, NJ — A Manchester Township man has been charged with murder in the death of a man at a home in Leisure Village West on Monday, authorities announced Tuesday.

Thomas Hatchett, 86, has been charged with murder and possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Manchester Police Chief Lisa Parker announced.

The victim was identified as Igal Hedad, 71, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, authorities said.

The prosecutor's office said Manchester police responded to a 911 call at 63 Cambridge Circle in Leisure Village West, one of multiple age-restricted communities in the township, for a man lying face down in the street. Police found Hedad bleeding from his head and with gunshot wounds to his back. Police also saw what appeared to be a bullet hole through the front door of the home, which belonged to Hatchett.

The Ocean County Regional SWAT Team responded and entered the home but found no one there, authorities said. Further investigation revealed Hatchett has an address in Verona. Police in Verona located Hatchett and took him in for an interview with detectives from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit and the Manchester Township Police Department, the prosecutor's office said. Hatchett was subsequently arrested and charged.

The 911 call was received shortly before 10 a.m., a source told Patch. It's not clear what happened between the time of the shooting and when Hatchett was located by Verona police. The prosecutor's office did not say what time police made contact with him in Verona.

Billhimer confirmed it was a death investigation about 2:30 p.m. Monday. A joint news release Monday evening from Billhimer and Parker said only that the death investigation was continuing and that there was no threat to the public.

The presence of the SWAT team and more than two dozen law enforcement vehicles in the development drew attention but authorities turned people away all afternoon, blocking off access to Cambridge Circle and nearby streets.

"Detectives from all of these agencies were on scene all day and traveled to Verona last night once Hatchett was located," Billhimer said. "I really can’t say enough to praise their efforts, an amazing job by all involved."

"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," Parker said.

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