Former Dauphin County Magistrate Judge Sonya McKnight has been convicted of attempted homicide and aggravated assault for shooting her ex-boyfriend, Michaeln McCoy.
She shot McCoy in the head while he slept on Feb. 10, 2024, as reported in a previous report by ShineMyCrown.
McCoy survived the shooting and testified that McKnight was the only person in the home at the time of the incident. Prosecutors painted a picture of a jealous ex-partner who refused to accept the end of their relationship, ultimately resorting to a near-fatal act of violence.
McKnight, who began her tenure as a Dauphin County judge in 2016, had already been suspended in 2023 due to a prior judicial misconduct case.
The conviction adds to an already controversial record that includes a 2019 incident where she shot her estranged husband. That earlier case did not result in criminal charges after McKnight successfully claimed self-defense.
Now facing up to 60 years in prison, McKnight’s sentencing is scheduled for May 28.
Her fall from the bench highlights ongoing concerns about judicial accountability, particularly when those entrusted with interpreting the law are found violating it in egregious ways.
The case is also sparking broader discussions about domestic violence, mental health, and power dynamics within the legal system.
