Reward Rises For Father Connected To Son's Death, Shooter Arrested

A King of Prussia man has been charged in a shooting in Elkins Park, while a reward has increased for a father connected to his son's death.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 10:52pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of a single spent shell casing on a dark surface, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.A recent wave of gun violence in eastern Montgomery County has raised concerns about public safety and the need for community-based solutions.Elkins Park Today

This is a summary of news stories from eastern Montgomery County, Pennsylvania this past week. A King of Prussia man has been arrested in connection with a shooting in Elkins Park, and the reward for finding a man connected to his son's death in Upper Dublin Township has increased to $10,000.

Why it matters

These incidents highlight ongoing public safety concerns in the eastern Montgomery County region, including gun violence and the search for a father allegedly connected to his son's death.

The details

An 18-year-old King of Prussia man has been arrested and charged in connection with a shooting on Sunday in the Elkins Park section of Abington Township. Meanwhile, the reward for finding Vernon Hatchett, also known as Khaliyl Ward, 40, of Glenside, who authorities say is connected to his son's death in Upper Dublin Township, has increased to $10,000 for information leading to his arrest.

  • The shooting in Elkins Park occurred on Sunday.
  • The reward for information on Vernon Hatchett has been increased to $10,000.

The players

Vernon Hatchett

Also known as Khaliyl Ward, a 40-year-old man from Glenside who authorities say is connected to his son's death in Upper Dublin Township.

Abington Township

The location of the Elkins Park shooting.

Upper Dublin Township

The location where Vernon Hatchett's son died, and where authorities are searching for Hatchett.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the 18-year-old King of Prussia man charged in the Elkins Park shooting to be released on bail.

The takeaway

These incidents underscore ongoing public safety concerns in the eastern Montgomery County region, including gun violence and the search for a father allegedly connected to his son's death, raising questions about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system and the need for community-based solutions to address these issues.