A Pennsylvania judge has been charged with first-degree attempted murder and aggravated assault for allegedly shooting her ex-boyfriend in the head.
The case involves Magisterial District Judge Sonya McKnight, who is accused of attempting to convince her former partner that he shot himself.
The incident occurred on February 10 at a residence in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Michael McCoy, the victim, had decided to end his one-year relationship with Judge Sonya McKnight.
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According to a probable cause affidavit, McCoy had made several attempts to break up with McKnight prior to the shooting. On the day of the incident, McCoy returned home from work to find McKnight sitting on his couch in pajamas. Tension escalated, and McCoy left the house to go to a local bar.
Upon returning home, McCoy and McKnight engaged in a heated argument. McCoy expressed his intention to involve McKnight’s mother to help remove her from his home. McKnight responded with surprise, finally understanding that their relationship was over.
McCoy then went to bed, only to wake up a couple of hours later with excruciating head pain and loss of vision.
He heard McKnight saying, “Mike, what did you do to yourself?”
Authorities allege that McKnight tried to convince McCoy that he had shot himself, a claim he vehemently denied.
The Susquehanna Township Police launched an investigation into the incident. Detectives discovered that McKnight had used a spare key to enter McCoy’s home after he had taken his key from her. McKnight’s deceptive interview with the police raised suspicions.
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Further evidence emerged when a test conducted within an hour of the shooting revealed gun residue on McKnight’s hands. Detectives also found that the gun used in the incident was registered to McKnight.
Medical examinations revealed that McCoy had suffered a single gunshot wound that entered near his right temple and exited near his left temple.
Tragically, McCoy is now blind in his right eye as a result of the shooting. These findings, combined with the evidence against McKnight, led to her subsequent arrest and charges of first-degree attempted murder and aggravated assault.
Previous Legal Troubles
This is not the first time Judge Sonya McKnight has found herself in legal trouble. In November, she was suspended without pay by the Court of Judicial Discipline for allegedly violating judicial probation related to a previous misconduct case.
The case involved McKnight’s alleged interference with the 2020 arrest of her son following a traffic stop. Although she was acquitted of criminal charges in that incident, the violation of judicial probation led to her suspension.
Additionally, McKnight had previously faced charges of shooting her estranged husband in 2019. The incident occurred when she allegedly invited him to her home to help her move furniture.
However, she was not charged in that case as it was ruled to be an act of self-defense.
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