Protest held after man fatally shot by police in South Whitehall

Protest held after man fatally shot by police in South Whitehall

VIDEO: Protests held after man fatally shot by police in South Whitehall

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The protest began Wednesday evening at the spot where a New Jersey man was fatally shot by a South Whitehall township police officer.

The District Attorney says it's too early to say whether the shooting was justified.

Around 100 people gathered on the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Hamilton Boulevard to protest the death of 44-year-old Joseph Santos at the hands of the South Whitehall Township police.

Protesters held signs that read "stop shooting," "who do you call when police murder?" and "end police brutality."

Police received a call Saturday for a man who was jumping on cars in the middle of the street between Dorney Park and the Comfort Suites.

A South Whitehall Township officer responded and could be seen in a cruiser parked alongside the road in a video obtained by 69 News.

In that same video Santos could be seen leaning on the cruiser, striking the sideview mirror, and then walking away from the cruiser.

At that point the officer exited the cruiser and yelled to Santos to get on the ground. Santos then turned around and began walking back toward the officer, all the while the officer yelling to him to get on the ground; the officer can be heard yelling a total of four times. When Santos got within feet of the officer, still walking forward, the officer fired five times, hitting Santos.

Santos later died at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest.

The officer has not been identified.

Pennsylvania State Police are investigating along with the Lehigh County District Attorney's Office and the South Whitehall Township Police Department.