Suspended Pennsylvania Magistrate Judge Charged After Shooting Ex-Boyfriend in Head

A woman in Pennsylvania who held a position in the legal system allegedly shot her former partner while he was sleeping over the weekend, according to police who have now pressed charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault.

According to an arrest affidavit by Susquehanna Township Police, tests revealed that Magisterial District Judge Sonya M. McKnight, 57, had gunshot residue on her hands one hour after Michael McCoy was shot in the bed of his home in the Harrisburg area early Saturday, as per Fox News.

Pennsylvania Magistrate Judge Charged in Shooting Case

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Magisterial District Judge Sonya M. McKnight, 57, is facing attempted murder charges following an incident involving Michael McCoy, 54, in the Harrisburg area. The arrest affidavit reveals that McKnight had gunshot residue on her hands merely an hour after McCoy was shot in his home.

McCoy, now blind in his right eye, had made multiple attempts to compel McKnight to vacate his residence after ending their year-long relationship. On the fateful night of February 9, McCoy returned home to find McKnight on the couch in pajamas.

When he informed her of his intention to seek help from her mother to facilitate her departure, McCoy noted a shift in McKnight's demeanor, as if she finally grasped the end of their relationship.

Later that night, McCoy woke up in intense pain, having been shot in the right eye and the bullet exiting from the left side. McKnight, present at the scene and later at the hospital, maintained that McCoy did not shoot himself. When McKnight contacted emergency services, she stated that she had been sleeping and heard McCoy yelling, without providing any further details about the situation, according to The Independent.

Sonya McKnight's Shooting Case

However, doorbell videos from neighboring homes contradicted McKnight's assertion that she remained at home that night. Detectives discovered the gun used in the shooting was registered to McKnight, and both parties affirmed that no one else was present during the incident.

McKnight, who had been suspended without pay in mid-November by the Court of Judicial Discipline due to misconduct allegations, now faces attempted murder charges. The Judicial Conduct Board had previously accused her of violating judicial probation in a case related to a 2020 traffic stop involving her son.

This arrest comes in the aftermath of McKnight being cleared of charges in 2019 for shooting her ex-husband, Enoch McKnight. Despite their pending divorce, Enoch visited her home to assist with moving furniture and was shot in the hand and groin. Investigators ruled the incident as self-defense following a series of domestic disputes between the former couple.

The murder case has been transferred to Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack because of a conflict of interest noted by the Dauphin County district attorney's office. Meanwhile, McKnight is currently being held in Dauphin County Prison with bail set at $300,000, and her legal representation has not been shown yet. The ongoing legal scenario further complicates McKnight's already tumultuous time as a judge, Daily Mail reported.