NEW FLORENCE, PENNSYLVANIA: Ray Shetler Jr, a New Florence man who was acquitted in the fatal shooting of a western Pennsylvania police officer named Lloyd Reed in 2015, has been convicted for assaulting a deputy Sheriff.
The case dates back to December 2021 when Shetler broke into a voilent confrontation with the law enforcement officers who were trying to arrest him after serving an arrest warrant.
How long did it take for jury to convict Ray Shetler?
Fox News reported the jury took more than three hours to deliberate in Westmoreland County court before they convicted Ray Shetler.
He was found guilty of aggravated assault, attempted disarming of a law enforcement official.
Besides, he resisted arrest in the violent confrontation in St Clair Township on December 2021.
Why was Ray Shetler served arrest warrant?
Sheter was on a probation for a theft-related conviction in 2018 after he failed a drug test and had not appeared at a probatation hearing.
His skipping the hearing followed an arrest warrant. The police found him hiding behind a futon and under blankets in a friend's trailer.
This was when the violent confrontation broken out during which officers testified that Shetler aggressively resisted arrest.
On being found guilty, Shelter told Action News 4 "Life's tough."
How did prosecution and defence react on his guily verdict?
Assistant District Attorney Leo Ciaramitaro, as per WTAE, said, "This was a dangerous situation," reffering to the confrontation.
"The defendant had put the lives of our law enforcement officers at risk. They handled that professionally and clearly, the jury determined that," he said.
During the closing arguments in his trial, the defence said there were discrepancies about what law enforcement officers said about the night of his arrest.
Some, as per defence, had reportedly shared that Shetler was handcuffed while other's didn't.
"It turned into an eye for an eye, quite literally." Michael Garofalo, who represented Shetler, said.
He added, "No one should look like that after failing to appear for court," reffering to Shetler’s bloodied face.
"The only person responsible for the injuries you saw was the defendant," Ciaramitaro said.
How was police officer Lloyd Reed killed?
Shetler was at his home when he was involved in a domestic violence situation. Lloyd Reed, a police officer, arrived at the scene to handle the situation.
He saw Shetler holding a rifle and demanded him to put it down. He then started shooting at Shetler who shot back in self-defense and killed Reed.
Shetler claimed he did not recognize Reed as a police officer. He was found guilty of stealing and possessing stolen items.
