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Joseph Sommer

Death by Force
Case Description
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Joseph Sommer Jr., a 48-year-old man from Northampton, PA, tragically died on May 25, 2016. He was involved in a murder-suicide incident in Washington Township, Lehigh County. Sommer was shot and killed by Harry R. Bortz Jr., 34, who then turned the gun on himself. The incident occurred at a home near Slatington, and both men were pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy confirmed that Sommer's death was a homicide, while Bortz died by suicide.

The shooting was reported just before 11 p.m ...Read More
Links to Additional Sources (5)
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  • themorningcall.com: Northampton youth wrestling coach a victim in Slatington murder-suicide, police say
  • WFMZ: 2 killed in Washington Twp. shooting; ruled murder-suicide
    •     ...View 3 additional sources
    Victim Details

    Joseph Sommer Jr

    Male

    White / Caucasian

    Washington-township

    PA

    2016-05-25

    48

    Joseph

    Sommer

    11/24/2025

    Forum Posts (2)
    It's so terrible to think about how deeply the Northampton wrestling community has been affected by ... ...Read More
    02/04/2025
    Has anyone else been following the impact this tragedy has had on the Northampton wrestling communit... ...Read More
    05/14/2023
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