A judge in Pennsylvania faces a lengthy prison sentence after being found guilty on charges related to shooting her ex-boyfriend in the head as he slept.
Sonya M. McKnight, 58, was convicted of attempted murder and aggravated assault on Wednesday, April 9, following a jury’s two-hour deliberation.
McKnight, who served as a magisterial district judge in Dauphin County since 2016, was immediately detained after the presiding judge denied a defense request for her release. Given her judicial history of sending individuals to the Dauphin County Prison, authorities transported her to a different county for incarceration.
The incident occurred in February 2024 when McKnight’s then-partner, Michael McCoy, 54, attempted to end their year-long relationship and requested she vacate his residence in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Trial testimony indicated that McKnight initially agreed to this request.
The Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office, which took over the case due to conflicts of interest in Dauphin County, argued that McKnight acted out of jealousy following the breakup. Prosecutors presented evidence that on February 10, 2024, McKnight shot McCoy while he was asleep at his home in Susquehanna Township.
McCoy testified that he awoke to severe head pain and realized he was blind. The bullet entered the right side of his face, traveled through his head, and exited on the left side, leaving him permanently blind in his right eye.
During his testimony, McCoy noted that McKnight was the only other person in the house at the time of the shooting. He recalled McKnight’s last words before the incident as, “Oh, so you’re serious?” in response to his request that she leave.
Police records detail that McKnight called 911 after the shooting, claiming she had been asleep and was awakened by McCoy’s cries. She reportedly could not account for the events leading to his injuries.
The investigation, led by Detective Sergeant Lee Tarasi of the Susquehanna Police Department, uncovered significant evidence implicating McKnight. A firearm registered to her was discovered at the scene, and forensic tests showed gunshot residue on her hands shortly after the incident. Evidence presented in court alleged the shot was fired from about one foot away from McCoy’s head.
Both McCoy and McKnight confirmed to investigators that they were alone in the house at the time. McCoy stated explicitly that he did not shoot himself and had no thoughts of self-harm.
The defense sought to undermine the prosecution’s case, claiming the evidence was inadequate to conclusively prove McKnight was the shooter. They emphasized McCoy’s inability to visually identify his assailant. However, after two days of testimony, the jury found these arguments unconvincing.
Cumberland County District Attorney Seán McCormack, who prosecuted the case with First Assistant District Attorney Courtney Hair LaRue, expressed satisfaction with the jury’s decision. “The jury saw the truth and found her guilty,” McCormack stated.
Previously, McKnight was involved in a 2019 shooting incident involving her estranged husband, Enoch McKnight, whom she shot in the groin. Authorities had ruled that incident as self-defense during a domestic dispute. The couple had been married since 2014 but filed for divorce two years later.
McKnight had been suspended without pay since November 2023 by the Court of Judicial Discipline for an unrelated misconduct case. Following her conviction, Judge Howard F. Knisely raised her bail to $3 million.
McKnight could face up to 60 years in prison for the attempted murder and aggravated assault charges. Her sentencing is set for May 28, 2025, and her attorney has indicated plans to appeal the conviction.
The case has garnered significant attention within Pennsylvania’s legal community, where McKnight had served as an elected official for nearly ten years before her suspension and conviction.