Suspended Dauphin County Justice of the Peace Decide Sonya McKnight was convicted Wednesday of tried homicide and aggravated assault for taking pictures her ex-boyfriend within the head as he slept.
McKnight, a Dauphin County decide since 2016 and a Democrat, carried out the heinous act days after her ex-boyfriend, Michael McCoy, ended their relationship.
The incident, which unfolded in February 2024, stemmed from a bitter breakup. McKnight, 58, had been dwelling in her ex-boyfriend Michael McCoy’s dwelling however refused to depart regardless of his repeated calls for after their relationship ended.
Prosecutors revealed that McKnight, consumed by jealousy, crept into McCoy’s bed room within the early morning hours and fired a single shot into his head. The bullet tore by his face, leading to everlasting blindness in his proper eye.
Proof offered at trial included gunshot residue discovered on McKnight’s fingers and a firearm registered in her title found on the scene.
McCoy testified that McKnight was the one different particular person current within the dwelling on the time of the taking pictures.
She now faces as much as 60 years in jail, with sentencing scheduled for Might 28.
People reported:
McCoy instructed detectives that he had been asleep for an hour or so earlier than waking up “with large head ache” and couldn’t see, police mentioned in an affidavit, per the outlet.
In accordance with NBC affiliate WGAL, McCoy testified on April 8 that he tried to get McKnight to maneuver out of his dwelling “quite a few instances.”
“Oh, so that you’re severe?” was reportedly the very last thing McCoy heard from McKnight earlier than he went to mattress and awoke in ache from the gunshot.
McKnight’s protection lawyer argued that the decide being the one particular person at dwelling in the course of the taking pictures was not sufficient proof to show she was responsible.
Legal professional Cory Leshner additionally argued that the best focus of gunpowder residue was discovered on McCoy’s fingers, per the outlet.
Cumberland County District Legal professional’s Workplace launched the following statement:
On April 9, 2025, after listening to two days of testimony, the jury discovered Sonya McKnight responsible of tried homicide and aggravated assault.
Fees stem from an incident that occurred within the early morning hours of Saturday, February 10, 2024, on the residence of the sufferer, on Saddle Ridge Drive, Harrisburg, PA (Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County).
McKnight shot the sufferer within the head whereas the sufferer was sleeping in mattress. The bullet entered the suitable aspect of the sufferer’s face, traversed by his head in a straight line behind and barely under his eyes and exited the left aspect of his face.
The sufferer survived the gunshot wound however is blind in a single eye consequently. The Cumberland County District Legal professional’s Workplace assumed jurisdiction of this investigation on the request of Dauphin County District Legal professional Fran Chardo as a result of McKnight is a Magisterial District Decide in Dauphin County.
Mr. Chardo indicated his workplace had a battle of curiosity and couldn’t prosecute the case.
He requested the Legal professional Common’s Workplace to just accept jurisdiction over the investigation. Legal professional Common Michelle A. Henry additionally indicated that her workplace additionally had a battle of curiosity and couldn’t settle for the case.
In consequence, according to Pennsylvania regulation, Fran Chardo requested that the Cumberland County District Legal professional’s Workplace assume authority over the investigation and prosecution.
