WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A 35-year-old woman was shot and killed at a playground in the township on Tuesday night, and an Allentown man was charged in her death Wednesday morning.
The Lehigh County Coroner’s Office has not identified the woman, allowing time for the family to grieve privately. But an affidavit of probable cause identifies her as Patricia White, and authorities have charged Rami Abouloh, 41, with homicide.
- A 35-year-old woman was shot and killed at a playground in Whitehall Township on Tuesday evening
- The shooting occurred about 6:50 p.m. at West Catasauqua Park
- Allentown resident Rami Abouloh has been charged with homicide and other offenses in the killing
The shooting occurred at 6:50 p.m. at West Catasauqua Park in the 2300 block of Pine Street.
WPD on scene of a shooting at the West Catasauqua Park, 2301 Pine St. Victims have been taken to the hospital. Investigation is just starting, information released only on Twitter for now. pic.twitter.com/jjkdk0ZCX3
— Whitehall_Township_Police (@Whitehall_PD) June 13, 2023
According to the affidavit:
Police received a call about "multiple gunshots fired" at the park at 2301 Pine St. There, they found two gunshot victims, a man and a woman. Both were taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest.
White was pronounced dead in the emergency department and the other victim, a man identified as Frank Russo, was treated for his injuries.
Witnesses reported a man matching Abouloh's description leaving the scene of the shooting in a grey Toyota. As police tried to track him down, Abouloh called 911 to turn himself in.
He told dispatchers he caught his wife with another man in the Whitehall park and shot them both and asked police to come and get him at his home on E. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
When police arrived, they found Abouloh inside with the door wide open, still on the phone with the dispatcher. Police recovered a semi-automatic firearm on a "step inside of a closet" with a magazine next to it.
"That's what happens when you cheat."Rami Aboulouh, quoted in a Whitehall Township police affidavit
Abouloh told investigators three children were in the home, and police said they made sure they were safe.
As Abouloh was taken into custody, he uttered, "That's what happens when you cheat."
In addition to homicide, Abouloh also was charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault.
He was arraigned Wednesday morning, denied bail and committed to Lehigh County Jail.
Court documents show Abouloh had also pleaded guilty to harassment in March. It's unknown if those charges are connected to Tuesday's shooting.
On Wednesday morning, less than a day after the shooting, the park was empty and quiet amid the rain of late morning. Basketball courts, grass fields and swingsets showed no hint of the violence from the night before.
In addition to the coroner’s office, the death is being investigated by the Whitehall Township Police Department, the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office and the Allentown Police Department.
Dealing with Domestic Violence? Here is how to get help.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached via phone at 800-799-7233 or by texting START to 88788. Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley has a 24/7 helpline residents can reach by calling 610-437-3369.
