Judge Shot Her Estranged Husband, Now She's On Paid Leave While The State Investigates The Shooting

Shot in the groin?

Pennsylvania Magisterial District Judge Sonya McKnight of Dauphin County has been placed on paid leave while the state attorney general’s office investigates the shooting of her estranged husband. Enoch McKnight was shot and injured in Judge McKnight’s house on May 10th, and investigators are looking into whether the shooting was justified.

Judge McKnight has a protection from abuse order from her husband, stemming from an October 2018 incident, as reported by Penn Live:

In October, Sonya McKnight reported an assault at their home when she drove his car away from the home. She told police she was going to the store and he tried to pull her from the car, and violently pry her hands off the steering wheel. She crashed the car into a fire hydrant, and reported injuries to her hands and arms, according to court records.

In April, the protective order was modified to allow for peaceful contact, meaning Enoch McKnight’s presence in Judge McKnight’s home isn’t necessarily a violation of the order. Enoch was reportedly at Judge McKnight’s house the day of the shooting to move furniture.

According to reports, Sonya and Enoch McKnight have differing stories as to what led to the shooting. The investigation was referred to the state attorney general by the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office to avoid the appearance of conflict, given Sonya McKnight’s work.


headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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