Judge Accused Of Shooting Sleeping Boyfriend In The Head And Told Him He Did It
Sonya McKnight Dauphin County Mugshot
Over the weekend, a suspended district judge was arrested for allegedly shooting her sleeping boyfriend in the face and attempting to shift blame onto him.
On Feb. 10, in the early morning hours, Susquehanna Township Police responded to a shooting report at a residence on Saddle Ridge Drive in Harrisburg, according to the Cumberland County District Attorney's Office.
Sonya McKnight, a suspended district judge, is accused of shooting her boyfriend in the head. The district attorney's office describes the trajectory of the bullet, stating it "entered the right side of the victim's face, traversed through his head in a straight line behind and slightly below his eyes and exited the left side of his face."
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Although the victim survived the shooting, he is now blind in one eye as a result of the incident.
According to the Associated Press, referencing McKnight's arrest affidavit, Michael McCoy, the victim, had ended his relationship with McKnight and had repeatedly tried to persuade her to leave. On the night of Feb. 9, after returning home from dinner, McCoy discovered McKnight, 57, on his couch in pajamas. Allegedly, he informed her of his plan to call her mother for assistance in relocating her belongings, and at that moment, he sensed that she "finally understood that it was over."
McKnight dialed 911, asserting she "could not explain what happened" and claimed she was asleep, only to awaken to the sounds of the victim screaming.
McKnight informed investigators that she did not leave the house on the night of the shooting, the AP reports. However, doorbell video footage allegedly contradicted this claim, revealing her presence outside. McCoy reportedly expressed his belief that McKnight followed him to the restaurant where he had dinner that night.
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McKnight reportedly had gunshot residue detected on her hands.
On Thursday, McKnight was arrested on charges of criminal attempted murder and aggravated assault. Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo recused himself from the investigation, as McKnight is a magisterial district judge in the county. The Pennsylvania Attorney General also recused themselves due to a conflict of interest.
The AP reports McKnight faced suspension in November amid various misconduct allegations.
