A shocking incident unfolded in Pennsylvania recently as a 57-year-old magistrate judge, Sonya M. McKnight, stands accused of attempted murder and aggravated assault after allegedly shooting her estranged boyfriend, Michael McCoy, in the head.
The incident occurred in McCoy’s home near Harrisburg, where McCoy was reportedly asleep at the time of the shooting.
According to police reports, McCoy, aged 54, had repeatedly attempted to persuade McKnight to vacate his residence following the termination of their year-long relationship.
The events leading up to the shooting paint a picture of escalating tension between the former partners, police said last Thursday. McCoy’s efforts to get McKnight to move out culminated in a confrontation on the night of the incident, with McCoy returning home to find McKnight in pajamas on the couch.
Upon informing her of his intention to seek assistance from McKnight’s mother to facilitate her departure, McCoy retired to bed at approximately 11 p.m., only to awaken to excruciating head pain and loss of vision in his right eye.
McKnight’s actions following the shooting raised suspicions, as she allegedly claimed ignorance of the events, attributing McCoy’s injuries to self-harm, the Associated Press reported on Feb. 16, 2024.
However, doorbell footage from neighboring residences contradicted her assertion that she remained at home throughout the night. Further investigation revealed that the firearm used in the incident was registered to McKnight.
Both parties confirmed that no one else was present in the residence at the time of the shooting.
This alarming development has thrust McKnight, an elected judge in Dauphin County since 2016, into the spotlight for reasons far removed from her judicial responsibilities.
McKnight had previously been suspended without pay due to allegations of misconduct, including violations related to a 2020 traffic stop involving her son. Additionally, McKnight faces allegations of providing excessive vacation time to court staff, disregarding a woman’s civil complaint, and misusing social media to promote consumer products.
The gravity of the situation prompted the transfer of the attempted murder case to Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack, owing to a conflict of interest in Dauphin County.
McKnight’s past encounters with the law, including a prior incident involving the shooting of her estranged husband in 2019 – deemed an act of self-defense by state prosecutors – have added complexity to the current legal proceedings.
As McKnight remains incarcerated with bail set at $300,000, questions linger regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the potential repercussions for her legal career.
This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of upholding the integrity of the judiciary and the accountability expected of those entrusted with dispensing justice.
