Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, April 12, 2025 – A Pennsylvania magisterial judge, Sonya M. McKnight, was convicted on Friday of attempting to murder her then-boyfriend, Michael McCoy, by shooting him in the head while he slept. The verdict, delivered after a gripping trial in Dauphin County, could see McKnight, 58, face up to 60 years in prison for the February 2024 attack that left McCoy permanently blind in one eye.
The incident unfolded after McCoy, 54, told McKnight he wanted to end their relationship and asked her to move out of his Harrisburg home. According to court testimony, McKnight responded with, “Oh, so you’re serious,” before shooting McCoy in the temple as he slept. McCoy awoke to “massive head pain,” unable to see, and was rushed to the hospital. Doctors discovered the bullet had entered his right temple and exited his left, missing vital areas by millimeters, as reported by the New York Post. McCoy survived but has been left disabled and unable to work.
Prosecutors revealed damning evidence during the trial. McKnight attempted to stage the scene by wiping down the gun and placing it near McCoy, claiming he shot himself. However, forensic tests showed McCoy had no gunshot residue on his hands, while McKnight tested positive. Her internet search history also included queries like “how to tell if someone is really asleep” and “can you shoot someone without going to jail,” indicating premeditation. The jury rejected her defense, convicting her of attempted murder and aggravated assault.
This wasn’t McKnight’s first violent encounter. In 2019, she shot her estranged husband, Enoch McKnight, in the groin during a domestic dispute, claiming self-defense. No charges were filed then, but the incident was used in this trial to highlight a pattern of violence. McKnight also faced legal scrutiny in 2020 for tampering with evidence in a case involving her son, leading to a temporary suspension from her judicial duties.
McKnight, who had served as a magisterial district judge in Dauphin County since 2016, was suspended without pay following her arrest on February 10, 2024. The Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline is expected to permanently remove her from the bench after this conviction. Sentencing is scheduled for later this year, with McKnight facing a potential 60-year sentence.
The case has sparked outrage and calls for greater oversight of judicial officials. Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo stated, “No one is above the law, not even a judge.” McCoy, speaking through his attorney, expressed relief at the verdict but emphasized the lifelong impact of his injuries. The community remains shaken, grappling with the betrayal of trust from a once-respected public servant.
