After a series of rulings by Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio last month, it’s no surprise that the murder trial of Ray Shetler Jr. has been rescheduled yet again, for a sixth time. The 32-year-old New Florence man had been scheduled for trial October 2nd for the shooting death of Saint Clair Township police officer Lloyd Reed Jr. in November of 2015. The new trial date is January 8th of next year.
Shetler is charged with criminal homicide, first degree murder, and third degree murder, and Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck will ask for the death penalty.
Officer Reed had responded to a reported domestic dispute at the New Florence home of Shetler’s girlfriend and exchanged gunfire with Shetler when he emerged from the home with a rifle in hand.
Judge Bilik-DeFazio last month denied a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, as well as motions for additional discovery and for severance of the three criminal cases against Shetler. He’s charged with theft and receiving stolen property for stealing a pickup truck in his escape attempt after the shooting, and with terroristic threats, simple assault, and harassment for the incident with his girlfriend. The judge granted a motion for Shetler’s attorney to access records in the case.
