A Pennsylvania judge accused of shooting her former boyfriend in the head and then attempting to deceive him into believing he had shot himself now faces charges of first-degree attempted murder and aggravated assault.
The incident occurred on February 10 at a residence in Harrisburg, following the victim, Michael McCoy’s, decision to end his one-year relationship with Magisterial District Judge Sonya McKnight, as outlined in a probable cause affidavit.
Susquehanna Township Police reported that McKnight dialed 911, claiming her boyfriend was unable to see and requesting an ambulance. She stated to the dispatcher that she was unaware of what had occurred as she was asleep and awoke to his screams, the affidavit revealed.
During the investigation, authorities discovered that McCoy had made several attempts to terminate his relationship with McKnight. At one point, he retrieved his key from McKnight, only for her to gain entry to his residence using a spare key while he was at work.
On the evening of February 9, McCoy returned home to find McKnight in pajamas on his couch. Following a tense exchange, McCoy left for a local bar, returning to a strained atmosphere, where McKnight proposed a conversation that McCoy declined. McCoy informed McKnight of his intention to seek assistance from her mother in removing her from his residence, leading to a realization from McKnight that the relationship was over.
McCoy retired to bed, only to awaken an hour or two later in severe head pain and partial blindness. McKnight allegedly attempted to persuade him that he had inflicted the gunshot wound on himself, a claim repeatedly refuted by McCoy during police questioning.
Investigators concluded that McKnight’s account of events was misleading, particularly as the firearm used was registered to her. Furthermore, a gun residue test conducted within an hour of the incident detected residue on McKnight’s hands, corroborating suspicions.
McCoy, now blind in his right eye, sustained a gunshot wound to the head, entering near his right temple and exiting near his left temple.
McKnight, a judge in Dauphin County since 2016, had been suspended without pay in mid-November by the Court of Judicial Discipline for alleged probation violations stemming from a prior misconduct case. This case related to McKnight’s purported interference in her son’s 2020 arrest following a traffic stop. Despite being acquitted of criminal charges in that incident, McKnight’s judicial responsibilities were suspended. Additionally, McKnight had previously faced charges of shooting her estranged husband in 2019, under circumstances deemed self-defense.
