Former Lansdale Police Chief Vows Change After Norristown Teen's Killing

NORRISTOWN, PA — Former Lansdale police chief and new Norristown chief Michael Trail mourned the recent killing of Hamid Boyd this week and promised change was coming to the community wracked for too long by a "cycle of violence."

Boyd, 19, was walking home from the store on Nov. 30, just after Thanksgiving, when he was shot several times and killed. A $5,000 reward has been posted for information on the suspects.

"On Nov. 30 our community lost another young soul to gun violence. Hamid Boyd was a son, a sibling, and father to his daughter," Trail said. "His murder is a senseless tragedy which will be felt by many for years to come."

Related: Reward Posted, Police Ask For Help After Teen Killed In Norristown

Trail said that the "full resources of the Norristown Police Department" were being brought to bear on the investigation and on stopping this type of violence. He also put out a call for unity in the local community.

"The time has come to put aside the things which divide us and focus on what unites, only then can we stop the cycle of violence which is robbing our communities of so many of our young people," Trail added.

Trail was officially sworn in to his new post on Nov. 6. He's the fifth chief of police in Norristown over the last four years and is looking to establish some continuity and consistency to both the role and to the role of the department in the municipality.

Boyd was a recent graduate of Martin Luther School and had been recruited to play Division 1 basketball. A GoFundMe has been launched for his family.

Police are asking for the public's help in identifying a vehicle that fled the scene of Boyd's killing. See here for details on the vehicle and the reward. If you have any information, contact Norristown Police at 610-270-0977 or Montgomery County Detectives at 610-278-3386.