Tamir Johnson Obituary, Death: 35-year-old man ID’d in fatal Allentown road rage shooting
Tamir Johnson Obituary, Death – Authorities have identified the man who was fatally shot during a road rage incident in Allentown early Sunday morning as 35-year-old Tamir Johnson of Whitehall Township. The Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office is currently investigating whether the shooting may have been an act of self-defense.
According to the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office, Johnson died from a gunshot wound to the torso and was pronounced dead just before 5 a.m. Sunday at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township. His death has been officially ruled a homicide by Coroner Daniel A. Buglio following an autopsy conducted Monday.
The incident began around 3:40 a.m. Sunday as Johnson was driving an Audi westbound on Hamilton Street in downtown Allentown. According to the District Attorney’s Office, Johnson passed another vehicle, a Toyota Prius, and forced it to the curb as both cars crossed Fifth Street.
Authorities said Johnson then exited his Audi with a metal baseball bat and began swinging it at the driver’s side door of the Prius. In response, the Prius driver pulled out a firearm and shot Johnson.
No charges have been filed at this time, but District Attorney Gavin Holihan stated the investigation is ongoing and emphasized that all evidence is still being reviewed to determine if the shooting qualifies as self-defense. “We are reviewing the possibility of justified use of self-defense,” Holihan said Monday.
After the shooting, the Prius driver reportedly drove a short distance—about a block and a half—from the scene before calling 911. He stayed at the location until officers arrived and cooperated with authorities. According to officials, he also handed over his legally-owned 9mm handgun to police.
The District Attorney’s Office confirmed that both vehicles were occupied during the incident—two people were in the Audi, while the Prius had only the driver. Surveillance footage of the confrontation has been recovered and is being reviewed by investigators.
Multiple agencies are involved in the ongoing investigation, including the Allentown Police Department, the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force, the District Attorney’s Office, and the Coroner’s Office. Detectives Sgt. Damian Murray and Jonathan Manning are leading the investigation.
As authorities continue to gather and examine evidence, they have not ruled out future charges depending on the findings. The case remains active, and officials are working to determine whether the Prius driver’s actions were legally justified under Pennsylvania’s self-defense laws.
The incident has raised concerns about escalating road rage and the use of force in public confrontations. Authorities are urging witnesses or anyone with additional information to come forward as the investigation continues.
