A jury of six men and six women, plus four alternates, has been chosen for the murder trial of 33-year-old Ray Shetler Jr. of New Florence, who is accused of shooting to death Saint Clair Township Police Officer Lloyd Reed Jr. in November of 2015.
With the bad weather today, Westmoreland County Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio has delayed the start of the trial until tomorrow. District Attorney John Peck said the weather will also push back the jury’s visit to the scene of the shooting and the nearby location where police say Shetler dumped his rifle and the clothing he wore to swim across the Conemaugh River into Indiana County in his escape attempt. That trip will likely happen on Friday.
Peck will pursue a conviction for first degree murder and will seek the death penalty. Defense attorney Mark Daffner will claim that Shetler shot Reed in self-defense after Reed responded to a domestic violence call at the New Florence home of Shetler’s girlfriend, Kristen Luther.
The judge expects the trial to take two weeks.
