The jury in the Ray Shetler Jr. murder case began deliberating at noon yesterday, and when they finished nine hours later, they still had not reached a verdict.
The 33-year-old Shetler is charged with first degree murder and third degree murder in the shooting death of 54-year-old Saint Clair Township Police Officer Lloyd Reed Jr. in November 2015 at the New Florence home he shared with his girlfriend, Kristen Luther.
In closing arguments yesterday, Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck told the jury that Shetler admitted he intended to kill Reed, that he raised his rifle during a tense nighttime confrontation with the officer, looked through the scope, and fired.
In his closing remarks, defense attorney Mark Daffner characterized the shooting as “a tragic mistake”, saying Shetler shot only after being shot at and wounded, and that he had no idea he had hit Reed, who died of a single shot that struck him in an opening underneath his bulletproof vest.
The jury of six men and six women returned to the courtroom three times during its deliberations, asking for clarification on several issues, and requesting to hear again an 18-minute phone call to 911 in which Luther asked for police to come for a domestic incident between her and the defendant.
Peck is asking for a first degree murder conviction, and will seek the death penalty should he get it. Daffner is seeking acquittal based on self-defense. Deliberations resume this morning.
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