All charges held for court against man charged in McKeesport officer Sean Sluganski's shooting death
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- All charges against a man accused of shooting and killing a McKeesport officer and injuring another were held for court when he appeared for a preliminary hearing on Friday.
The hearing lasted about an hour, with the suspect's family and several McKeesport officers attending the proceedings.
Still in a wheelchair after he was shot during an exchange of gunfire with police, Johnathan Morris said nothing and seemed to be paying close attention to what was being said.
The only testimony came from Allegheny County police detective Patrick Kinavey, who told the court Morris claimed he first walked away from officer Sean Sluganski when they showed up at Morris' mother's home because he said he didn't do anything wrong.
Morris later claimed that officer Chuck Thomas, who was also at the hearing, tried to run him over several times before Morris shot him as he sat in his car. Kinavey testified that Morris also claimed the officers were "out for blood" and while he remembers opening fire on officer Thomas, he had no recollection of firing at officer Sean Sluganski.
Kinavey also told the court that Morris admitted to having PTSD but he said he was having a good day before the shooting and he used meditation and takes showers to wash the PTSD away.
The prosecution asked for Morris' charges to be amended, adding a firearms-related charge. Homicide counts were amended to homicide of a police officer with remaining aggravated assaults being amended to attempted homicide of a police officer.
Morris' family as well as members of officer Sluganski's family declined comment after the hearing.
All charges were held for court. Morris' formal arraignment is set for March 21 at 8 a.m.
