For a fifth time, the Ray Shetler Jr. capital murder trial has been postponed, this time to August.
The 32-year-old Shetler is charged with criminal homicide, first degree murder, and third degree murder for gunning down Saint Clair Township police officer Lloyd Reed Jr. in New Florence in November of 2015. Officer Reed had been called to the home of Shetler’s girlfriend for a domestic incident, and Reed and Shetler exchanged gunfire when Shetler emerged from the home with a rifle.
Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck is seeking the death penalty. The trial was originally scheduled for October of last year, was rescheduled for January 3rd and then January 9th this year, then for June 5th. Now, jury selection is scheduled for August 7th, with no indication on his criminal docket sheet as to why the trial has been delayed yet again.
Shetler’s attorney filed an omnibus pretrial motions notification in February, including a writ of habeas corpus. Peck filed an objection to the writ in March. The hearing has not yet been held on those motions. The case will be tried before Westmoreland County Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio.
