Harrisburg, PA – Suspended judge Sonya McKnight faced trial in Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas on Monday, accused of attempting to murder her former boyfriend by shooting him as he slept last February. The court proceedings marked the first time McKnight has appeared before a jury since the incident at her Susquehanna Township residence.
Prosecutors allege that McKnight shot Michael McCoy in the head, resulting in him losing sight in one eye. Following the shooting on February 15, 2024, she was charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated assault. During Monday’s session, several witnesses, including first responders and forensic experts, presented insights into the grim details of that night.
The case has been delegated to Cumberland County due to potential conflicts of interest as McKnight holds a judicial position in Dauphin County. Cumberland County’s District Attorney Sean McCormack led the prosecution, bringing forth evidence of ongoing relationship strife between McKnight and McCoy prior to the incident. According to testimony, McCoy had made several unsuccessful attempts to have McKnight move out of his house due to trust issues.
Challenging the prosecution, defense attorney Cory Leshner argued that there is insufficient evidence directly linking McKnight to the firing of the weapon. Leshner highlighted that McCoy, despite being the only other person in the house at the time, has stated he has no memory of the shooting event, questioning himself what had happened when he found himself in a pool of blood.
Incidentally, while both parties were found with gunshot residue on their hands, forensic expert Ashley Stein from RJ Lee Group noted that McCoy’s hands bore significantly higher levels than any other surfaces tested, including McKnight’s. Stein clarified that gunshot residue could appear on a person if they had discharged a firearm, were near a firearm when it was discharged, or had come into contact with someone who had residue on them.
Moreover, police discovered McKnight washing her hands and attempting to dispose of clothing potentially relevant to the gunshot residue tests. The defense pointed out that while the gun was registered to McKnight, McCoy also had access to it, and forensic testing of the firearm did not conclusively link the bullets found on the scene to the weapon.
Further complicating the dynamics of the case, evidence presented suggested McKnight had possibly used McCoy’s phone to contact other women, allegedly driven by jealousy—a portrayal backed by two witnesses claiming to have received calls from McCoy’s phone on the eve of the incident, hearing a woman’s voice each time.
The trial adjourned shortly after 5 p.m. and is set to resume Tuesday morning. These proceedings not only underscore the tragic unraveling of a personal relationship but also spotlight the intense scrutiny involved in cases concerning public officials.
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