News

Loved ones of fallen officer outraged about possible benefit for his accused killer

BOLIVAR, Pa. — Friends and family of St. Clair Township police Officer Lloyd Reed Jr. are expressing outrage after hearing about a possible charity benefit for the man accused of killing him.

“It’s disrespectful to his wife, family and friends,” said Cristal Mixon, a family friend of the Reed family. “How could you as a human being support a murderer? You’re supporting a killer.”

As shooting suspect Ray Shetler sits in jail waiting for trial, his loved ones are supporting him from outside, and such support efforts landed them in Paul’s Stumble Inn, a bar in Bolivar.

The bar has received negative backlash on social media, with people accusing the bar of running drink specials to benefit Shetler’s legal costs.

“No money went to them,” said Paul Bair, the owner of Paul’s Stumble Inn. “The only money that went out (of) that bar was to the DJ, not to anyone of the Shetler family.”

In a Facebook post, the bar said:

"They were approached by a loved one of Mr. Shetler for a pizza and drink special Friday night... And while they don't support cop killers, they do support everyone's right to fair trial and decent lawyer."

Both the Blair and his son, Tom Blair, told Channel 11 News that they didn’t post the controversial message to the Facebook page.

Les Neri, the president of Pennsylvania’s Fraternal Order of Police, issued the following statement to Channel 11 News:

“We are shocked by this fundraiser. Any business owner who would host an event in support of a cop killer during Police Memorial month should be ashamed of themselves.”