On the evening of November 28, 2015, St. Clair Township Police Officer Lloyd Earl Reed Jr., a 54-year-old male, was fatally shot while responding to a domestic disturbance call in New Florence, Pennsylvania. The call came from the residence of Kristen Luther, the girlfriend of Ray A. Shetler Jr., who was reportedly intoxicated and had been involved in a violent argument with her. Officer Reed, who was in uniform, was the first to arrive at the Ligonier Street home.
Upon his arrival, Officer Reed encountered Shetler, who was armed with a high-powered hunting rifle. An exchange of gunfire ensued between the two men. Officer Reed was struck by a single bullet that penetrated an area not covered by his ballistic vest. Despite being mortally wounded, he was able to return fire, striking Shetler in the shoulder. Officer Reed radioed for help before losing consciousness and was transported to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Following the shooting, Ray A. Shetler Jr. fled the scene, leading to a manhunt that ended approximately six hours later when he was apprehended by Pennsylvania State Police near the Conemaugh Generating Station. He was suffering from a gunshot wound to his shoulder. Shetler was subsequently arrested and charged with criminal homicide.
The case went to trial in February 2018, where the prosecution argued that Shetler intentionally shot Officer Reed. The defense, however, maintained that Shetler acted in self-defense, claiming he did not know the man approaching him in the dark was a police officer and that Reed had fired first. After 20 hours of deliberation, a Westmoreland County jury acquitted Shetler of first-degree and third-degree murder. He was, however, found guilty of theft for stealing a vehicle while attempting to escape after the shooting.
