Suspended Dauphin County Justice of the Peace Choose Sonya McKnight was convicted Wednesday of tried homicide and aggravated assault for capturing 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 house 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 via his face, leading to everlasting blindness in his proper eye.
Proof introduced at trial included gunshot residue discovered on McKnight’s fingers and a firearm registered in her identify found on the scene.
McCoy testified that McKnight was the one different individual current within the house on the time of the capturing.
She now faces as much as 60 years in jail, with sentencing scheduled for Could 28.
People reported:
McCoy instructed detectives that he had been asleep for an hour or so earlier than waking up “with huge head ache” and couldn’t see, police mentioned in an affidavit, per the outlet.
In line with NBC affiliate WGAL, McCoy testified on April 8 that he tried to get McKnight to maneuver out of his house “quite a few instances.”
“Oh, so that you’re critical?” 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 legal professional argued that the decide being the one individual at house throughout the capturing was not sufficient proof to show she was responsible.
Lawyer Cory Leshner additionally argued that the very best focus of gunpowder residue was discovered on McCoy’s fingers, per the outlet.
Cumberland County District Lawyer’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 via his head in a straight line behind and barely beneath 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 Lawyer’s Workplace assumed jurisdiction of this investigation on the request of Dauphin County District Lawyer Fran Chardo as a result of McKnight is a Magisterial District Choose in Dauphin County.
Mr. Chardo indicated his workplace had a battle of curiosity and couldn’t prosecute the case.
He requested the Lawyer Basic’s Workplace to simply accept jurisdiction over the investigation. Lawyer Basic Michelle A. Henry additionally indicated that her workplace additionally had a battle of curiosity and couldn’t settle for the case.
Consequently, in keeping with Pennsylvania regulation, Fran Chardo requested that the Cumberland County District Lawyer’s Workplace assume authority over the investigation and prosecution.
