Crime & Safety

'Slime' Wanted for Fatal Shooting Outside Strip Club, Authorities Say

Detectives say man known as 'Slime' gunned down Tyree Wimberly on Club Avenue in January.

Police and the Lehigh County District Attorney believe they know who shot and killed Tyree Wimberly in the early morning of Jan. 26 as he walked past a strip club on the border between Bethlehem and Allentown.

On Wednesday, District Attorney Jim Martin announced that an arrest warrant has been obtained for Ulysses Rodriguez, a 20-year-old man whose last known address was 937 Walnut St. in Allentown.

District Judge Wayne Maura issued the arrest warrant on Tuesday, the DA said.

Find out what's happening in Bethlehemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Bethlehem Police Department and the DA’s Homicide Task Force are asking for the public’s help in finding Rodriguez, whose street name is “Slime,” according to a DA news release. The DA and Bethlehem Police have disseminated a picture of Rodriguez, who should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information about how to find Rodriguez is asked to call Bethlehem Det. Jason Fulmer at 610-997-7682, Task Force Det. Richard Heffelfinger at 610-782-3654 or Lehigh Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-800-426-TIPS.

Find out what's happening in Bethlehemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Police allege that Rodriguez gunned down Wimberly, who lived on Alice Street in Allentown, on the street outside of Scoobie’s Gentleman’s Club, 2327 Hanover Ave., Allentown, at about 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 26.

An eyewitness told police that a confrontation took place at the intersection of Club Avenue and Eaton Avenue after Rodriguez offered to sell marijuana and Wimberly refused to buy, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

The witness said he saw the shooter pull a handgun from his waistband in the back of his pants and point it at Wimberly, according to the affidavit. Then the witness said he heard several shots before Wimberly walked toward the entrance of Scoobie’s and collapsed.

The shooter then fled, the witness told police.

Wimberly died a little more than two hours later at St. Luke’s University Hospital in Fountain Hill. The cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds to the chest. He was 21.

Martin and detectives said the county’s new Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center was crucial in finding witnesses that led to the charges being filed. The center allows investigators to analyze telephone and vehicle records and other available information to help them solve crimes.

The description of the shooter’s getaway vehicle proved “vital” in finding the alleged shooter, according to a prepared statement offered by detectives Fulmer and Heffelfinger.

Witnesses said the vehicle had taillights that started at the roof and got wider toward the middle of the vehicle. That narrowed down the search to a Volvo or a Honda CRV.

By finding the vehicle and its owner, police were able to find another eyewitness who could help police track the shooter through his street name and cell phone number, the detectives said.

From photographs, Rodriguez was identified as the man known as “Slime” and witnesses identified Rodriguez as the man who shot Wimberly.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.