SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Authorities have identified a man who was fatally shot by township police as they said he advanced on them with what appeared to be a rifle.
Gary J. Moyer, 73, of South Whitehall, was pronounced dead at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 100 block of North 38th Street after suffering gunshot injuries, Lehigh County Coroner Daniel A. Buglio said Thursday.
An autopsy Friday morning determined the cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds, Buglio said.
Officers had said they fired about six shots in the confrontation with Moyer.
But the manner of death remains under investigation, Buglio said.
A ruling "will be made after the investigation is complete and following discussions with the Lehigh County District Attorney's office," Buglio said.
Detail of the incident
The incident began about 1 p.m. at a home in the 100 block of North 38th Street, according to a news release from the office of Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan.
Police previously said Moyer suffered long-term health issues and they found a note inside the home after the shooting.
Officials did not elaborate on the contents of the note.
Multiple township officers responded to a 911 call for a man with a gun.
They were confronted by a man with what appeared to be a rifle. The man advanced toward the officers, who gave several commands for him to drop the weapon, Holihan said in the release.
The man refused to drop the weapon. Officers used less-than-lethal force against the man, which did not stop him from advancing toward the officers.
They then fired the shots, authorities said.
The case is being investigated by the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force, the State Police Forensics Services Unit, South Whitehall Township Police and the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office.
