LANCASTER, PA – A former Pennsylvania magistrate judge was found guilty of attempted murder for shooting her boyfriend in the head while he slept, leaving him permanently blind in one eye. The verdict against Sonya M. McKnight, 58, was delivered by a Lancaster County jury after they deliberated on the chilling details presented over two days. She was also convicted of aggravated assault in connection with the February 2024 attack on Michael McCoy, 55, at his Dauphin County home.
The Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted the case due to a conflict of interest in Dauphin County, described the violent incident in a detailed news release. Authorities confirmed that McKnight fired the shot at close range, with the bullet penetrating McCoy’s head and exiting on the opposite side, causing his loss of sight in one eye.
Despite this incident occurring in Dauphin County, the complexities surrounding McKnight’s former judicial role necessitated a handover of the case to neighboring Cumberland County. Prosecution hurdles included the Dauphin County DA’s conflict and the Pennsylvania attorney general’s similar position, making the case somewhat atypical in its jurisdictional proceedings.
McKnight and McCoy had been in a relationship for a year, with McKnight living in McCoy’s residence. Tensions escalated when McCoy attempted to end the relationship several days prior to the shooting, leading to significant friction as McKnight refused to move out. This culminated in a dinner on February 9 when McCoy suspected he was being followed by McKnight, a suspicion later supported by police findings.
Evidence presented during the trial painted a troubling picture for McKnight. Not only was gunshot residue found on her hands, but forensic analysis pinpointed the proximity of the shot as being fired from only a foot away, and the weapon used belonged to McKnight. Despite her claims of innocence and confusion reported during the 911 call, the jury found this evidence compelling enough to convict her of the serious charges.
McKnight was no stranger to controversy in her judicial career. She had previously been suspended without pay amid various allegations, including instructing her staff to ignore financial disputes involving her. Moreover, she was embroiled in a prior incident in 2019 when she shot her estranged husband; however, that incident was ruled self-defense and resulted in no charges.
McCoy, who survived the horrifying ordeal, denied shooting himself from the outset, consistently telling responders, “I did not shoot myself.” After enduring severe trauma, he was released from the hospital just a day after the incident. The case, with its convoluted personal and professional facets, has sparked discussions about the ethical responsibilities of those in judicial positions and the tragic consequences of personal conflict spiraling into violence.
As McKnight awaits sentencing, the focus remains on the severe implications of her actions, with the sentencing likely to result in a lengthy prison term, cementing the fall from grace of someone once tasked with upholding the law.