Malvern man arrested for fatal shooting in Glenside

Kether Opitimus Massiaz, 22, of Malvern, has been arrested for First-Degree Murder and related charges in the homicide of Wendell Allison-Haulcey, 28, of King of Prussia. Allison-Haulcey was fatally shot in Glenside on Sunday evening.

From the announcement from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and Cheltenham Police Department:

On Sunday, March 15, 2020, at approximately 9:12 p.m., Cheltenham Township Police responded to the 400 block of West Glenside Avenue for a reported shooting. Cheltenham Township Police Officers arrived on scene and located a 28-year-old male, later identified as Allison-Haulcey, who had sustained an apparent gunshot wound to the chest. He was transported to Abington Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead. At 9:14 p.m., Cheltenham Police were called to a nearby 7-11 Store, at 362 Easton Road, for a report of a man bleeding from the head. The man was identified as Massiaz, who was operating a black BMW sedan.

Montgomery County Detectives and Cheltenham Police launched a joint investigation, which included locating several eyewitnesses as well as doorbell camera surveillance. The investigation found that the decedent and the defendant were involved in an altercation, with each carrying firearms. Shots were exchanged as they ran, and neighbors called police. Before and after the shooting, neighbors reported seeing a black four-door sedan. Another witness reported one of the men dropped a backpack on West Glenside Avenue. The area surrounding the homicide scene was processed and two guns were found: a High Point .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, recovered adjacent to the body, and a Taurus 9mm semiautomatic pistol, found by the backpack. The Taurus firearm 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 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 in Montgomery County”

An autopsy was conducted on Monday by the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office. During the autopsy, a projectile was recovered from the body. The cause of death was a gunshot wound to the shoulder and chest and the manner of death was ruled homicide.

Massiaz was charged with First-Degree Murder, Third-Degree Murder and Possessing an Instrument of Crime. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Christopher Cerski. Bail is not available for First-Degree Murder, and Massiaz was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., March 30, 2020, before Judge Cerski.