Police fatally shoot armed 73-year-old man in South Whitehall after he refuses to drop gun, officials say
- Lori Lee WGOLV
- May 28
- 2 min read
Updated: May 29
S. WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. - Police shot and killed a man in South Whitehall Township on Wednesday after he advanced towards them with a firearm, according to a news release.
According to the news release from the Lehigh County district attorney, officers shot and killed a 73-year-old man, whose identity has not been disclosed, after he came at them with what appeared to be a rifle.
At about 1 p.m. South Whitehall police were called to the home in the 100 block of N. 38th Street for a report of a man with a gun, according to the DA.
Photo courtesy Lehigh Valley Fire Scene Photos
The DA said, multiple South Whitehall officers arrived at the scene and were confronted by a man with what appeared to be a rifle.
Officials said the man moved toward the officers, who gave several commands for him to drop the weapon.
The man refused to drop the weapon, and officers used "less-than-lethal" force against him, but it did not stop the man from moving toward the officers, according to the DA.
Officers fired about six rounds, the DA said, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the coroner, the man was pronounced dead at 3:03 pm.
A preliminary investigation indicates the man was suffering from long-term health issues, according to the District Attorney. A note was also found inside the home after his death.
The Lehigh County coroner said his office is not releasing the man's name as of yet in order to allow his family to grieve privately. His family was at the scene and was informed about the death investigation, the coroner said in a statement.
An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.
The case is being investigated by Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, the Lehigh County
Homicide Task Force, Pennsylvania State Police Forensics Services Unit and the Lehigh
County Coroner’s Office.
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