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Officials: 22-Year-Old Malvern Man Charged In Cheltenham Murder

CHELTENHAM, Pa. (CBS) -- Montgomery County authorities arrested a 22-year-old man in connection to a Cheltenham murder. Officials say Kether Opitimus Massiaz, 22, of Malvern, was charged with first-degree murder and other related charges in the homicide of 28-year-old Wendell Allison-Haulcey, of King of Prussia.

The shooting happened on the 400 block of West Glenside Avenue, shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday.

Police officers arrived to find Allison-Haulcey suffering a gunshot wound to the chest.

The victim was transported to Abington Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead. His identity has not yet been released.

Officers were called to a nearby 7-Eleven store at 9:14 p.m. for a report of a man bleeding from the head.

He was later identified as Massiaz, who was driving a black BMW sedan.

Kether Opitimus Massiaz
Credit: Montgomery County District Attorney's Office

Investigators found the two were involved in an altercation and both were carrying firearms. Shots were exchanged as they ran and neighbors called police.

Neighbors reported seeing a black four-door sedan before and after the shooting.

Two guns were found in the area surrounding the scene -- one was legally registered to Massaiz.

"This excellent work by Montgomery County and Cheltenham detectives was aided by concerned citizens, who shared what they saw and stepped up to help the investigation and we thank them for that," said Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele. "Even in the midst of the emergent situation with COVID-19, our law enforcement personnel are on the job working to keep everyone safe every day and to handle these crimes as they occur."

An autopsy found the cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the shoulder and chest.

Massiaz is being held without bail at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.

A preliminary hearing is set for March 30.

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