Trial for accused New Florence cop killer Ray Shetler set to start Jan. 8

Rich Cholodofsky
Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017 4:57 p.m. | Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017 4:57 p.m.

Sean Stipp | Tribune-Review

Ray Shetler Jr. is led into the Ligonier office of Magisterial District Judge Denise L. Snyder Thiel on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015.

Sean Stipp | Trib Total Media

Family members of Ray Shetler Jr., including his mother, Lorie Porter (left), leave the Ligonier office of Magisterial District Judge Denise L. Snyder Thiel on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015.

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St. Clair police Officer Lloyd Reed Jr., 54, was fatally shot Nov. 29, 2015, while responding to a reported domestic dispute at a home on Ligonier Street in New Florence.

Jury selection in the capital murder trial of accused cop killer Ray Shetler Jr. will begin Jan. 8.

Shetler, 33, of New Florence is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting St. Clair Township Officer Lloyd Reed, 54, on Nov. 28, 2015, as he responded to a domestic call from Shelter's girlfriend at his Ligonier Street home.

The prosecution is seeking the death penalty. Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio will preside over the trial.

Shetler appeared in court Tuesday for a status hearing. Bilik-DeFazio set aside two weeks for the trial.

District Attorney John Peck has said he will ask jurors to sentence Shetler to death if he is found guilty of first-degree murder. Peck cited the fact that Reed was shot in the line of duty as the aggravating circumstance making the case eligible for the death penalty.

Defense attorney Mark Daffner said he doesn't believe there is enough evidence to support a first-degree murder verdict and suggested Shetler did not know he was shooting at a police officer.

Daffner said the case is far different from the fatal shooting of Brian Shaw, a New Kensington police officer who was gunned down Friday night.

“This is not a typical police-involved shooting,” Daffner said of Reed's death. “The officer fired at my client at least six times first, hitting Mr. Shetler, who at that time responded.”

Police said Shetler's girlfriend, Kristen Luther, called police to the home to help her, claiming he was drunk and abusive.

Shetler ignored Reed's commands to drop a .271-caliber hunting rifle, police said. He allegedly shot at Reed three times, and Reed fired six times.

Reed was hit once in an area of his chest not protected by his bulletproof vest. Shetler was wounded in the shoulder.

Shetler fled, at one point swimming across the Conemaugh River to elude police. After a six-hour manhunt, he was taken into custody while walking along a road near a power plant.

Police recovered the rifle that they believe Shetler used, along with ammunition and a bloody sweatshirt, hidden in brush on the riverbank.

Bilik-DeFazio in August denied a defense motion to dismiss the first-degree murder charge against Shetler.

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-830-6293 or rcholodofsky@tribweb.com.