On a spring morning in May 2023, the tranquility of the Bristol Borough Wharf was shattered by a violent altercation that left a 38-year-old man, Faisal Iqbal, dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Witnesses at the waterfront park described a loud argument between Iqbal and his estranged wife, 40-year-old Sammar Khan of Levittown, near the coastline. The verbal dispute quickly escalated into a physical struggle.
According to witness statements, after an initial 'pop' sound, Iqbal, who had
been seated, stood up and began to wrestle with Khan. More gunshots were heard as the struggle continued. The two then moved towards the parking lot, where a wounded Iqbal pleaded with a bystander to call 911 for help. It was then that Khan shot her husband twice, causing him to collapse onto a grassy area. As he lay defenseless on the ground, Khan walked over and shot him twice more in the torso and once in the head.
When Bristol Borough police arrived at the scene at approximately 10:53 a.m., they found Khan with blood on her clothing. Iqbal was pronounced dead in the grassy area of the parking lot. A handgun was recovered nearby. Khan was taken into custody at the scene and was subsequently charged with criminal homicide, possession of an instrument of a crime, and recklessly endangering another person. She was held at the Bucks County Correctional Facility without bail. The investigation later revealed a history of a tumultuous relationship, with Khan having previously obtained a protection from abuse order against Iqbal.
In July 2025, Sammar Khan, then 42, pleaded guilty to a charge of third-degree murder, as well as possession of an instrument of a crime and recklessly endangering another person. During her sentencing hearing in September 2025, testimony was presented asserting that Khan had been a victim of domestic abuse during her marriage to Iqbal. While the prosecution did not contest the existence of domestic violence, they argued it did not justify her actions on the day of the murder. Ultimately, a judge sentenced Sammar Khan to 10 to 30 years in state prison for the death of her husband.
