A 35-year-old Whitehall man was fatally shot July 6 in the area of Fifth and Hamilton streets in Allentown.

Lehigh County Coroner Daniel Buglio, following an autopsy the next day, ruled the death of Tamir R. Johnson a homicide.

According to a news release from the county district attorney’s office, District Attorney Gavin P. Holihan and Allentown Police Chief Charles Roca said Allentown police were called approximately 3:37 a.m. for a report of an altercation between the occupants of two vehicles.

Two individuals, police said, were taken into investigative detention, and one, identified as Johnson, was taken to Lehigh Valley Health Network-Cedar Crest, Salisbury Township, by ambulance for treatment of a gunshot wound.

That individual was declared dead shortly after his arrival at the hospital, police said.

Video surveillance from nearby locations showed two vehicles — an Audi containing two individuals and a Prius occupied only by the driver — were involved in an altercation that led to the shooting. As both vehicles traveled west in the 400 block of West Hamilton Street, the Audi, operated by Johnson, overtook the Prius. As the vehicles crossed Fifth Street, the Audi forced the Prius to the curb, and both vehicles stopped.

According to police, Johnson then exited his car and approached the driver of the Prius with a metal bat, similar to those used for training in baseball and softball. Johnson swung the bat at the driver of the Prius, striking the driver-side door.

The driver of the Prius fired a gun once at Johnson, police said. Johnson stopped striking the Prius, moved away from that vehicle and dropped the bat, according to the video surveillance.

The driver of the Prius left the area, drove approximately 1.5 blocks, parked and called 911. That driver remained there until police arrived.

He was then detained by police. A 9 mm handgun was recovered from the driver, who was legally permitted to possess the handgun, police said.

As of press time, no charges had been filed against the driver of the Prius, so his name was not released.

The second occupant of the Audi remained at the scene and was uninjured, police said. His name will also not be released.

The investigation was handled by Detective Sgt. Damian Murray and Detective Jonathan Manning of Allentown Police Department, the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force, the Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office and the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office.