The prosecution resumes its case against Ray Shetler Jr. today in Westmoreland County Court. It is Day Three of testimony in the murder trial of the 33-year-old New Florence man, who is accused of killing Saint Clair Township Police Officer Lloyd Reed Jr. in a shooting outside of Shetler’s girlfriend’s New Florence home in November of 2015.
On Friday, testimony from state police troopers established that it was Reed who fired first in the gunfight, after Shetler ignored his commands to drop the rifle he was carrying. One trooper also testified that Shetler told him to go ahead and shoot him because he had – in his words – “already been shot by one coward” that night.
Westmoreland County District Attorney John Peck is pursuing a conviction for first degree murder, with the death penalty, citing the aggravating circumstance that the victim was a police officer. Shetler is also charged with third degree murder. The defense maintains that he shot Reed in self defense.
