PITTSBURGH — The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office is no longer seeking the death penalty against a man accused of shooting and killing a McKeesport police officer.
DA Stephen Zappala’s Office filed a notice on Wednesday to rescind its intent to seek capital punishment against Johnathan Morris.
Morris is accused of killing Officer Sean Sluganski and wounding Officer Charles Thomas in February 2023.
Investigators say he opened fire after officers were called to his mother’s house.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> 1 police officer killed, another injured in McKeesport shooting
In a statement, the DA’s office said:
“In Pennsylvania, in first-degree murder cases, a defendant can receive a sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty. If homicide charges have been held at a preliminary hearing, the District Attorney must review the facts and circumstances known at that time, and after weighing the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, determine whether the death penalty should be sought. The decision must be made by the Formal Arraignment. There are 30 days between the preliminary hearing and the Formal Arraignment.
“Prior to the Formal Arraignment, the District Attorney reviews all the facts and circumstances available at that time and then makes the decision whether to file a Notice of Intention to Seek the Death Penalty. The Notice must be filed on or before the Formal Arraignment date. After the Notice of Intention is filed, while preparing for trial, both the District Attorney and defense counsel continue to gather evidence and information. If additional and/or new information is discovered or the circumstances change, the District Attorney can file a Notice of Recission of Intention to Seek Death Penalty.”
Court documents show there was a motion for Morris to undergo a psychiatric evaluation in January.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin on April 27.
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