Today is a deadline day in the pretrial process for Ray Shetler Jr., the New Florence man charged with shooting to death Saint Clair Township Police Officer Lloyd Reed Jr. in November of 2015.
All motions seeking to exclude evidence or testimony are due to be submitted to Westmoreland County Court by Shetler’s attorney, as are proposed jury instructions for the trial. Jury selection for the trial is scheduled to begin February 5th.
Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio will hold a hearing on Monday afternoon, addressing all of the motions and the proposed questions to be asked of prospective jurors during the selection process.
Shetler does not dispute that he killed Reed on November 28th, 2015, but claims it was in self defense. Reed had been summoned to the New Florence home of Shetler’s girlfriend for a possible domestic violence incident. Shetler emerged from the home with a rifle and the two exchanged gunfire, with one of Shetler’s shots finding opening at the side of the officer’s bullet-proof vest.
Shetler is 33 years old. Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck is seeking the death penalty.
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