Sluganski Trial Day 3: Jurors shown autopsy photos, hear about gunshot that killed McKeesport cop

Sluganski Trial Day 3: Jurors shown autopsy photos, hear about gunshot that killed McKeesport officer Advertisement Updated: 11:16 PM EST Nov 12, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Melissa Meyers Reporter Marcie Cipriani Reporter Jordan Cioppa Reporter Sluganski Trial Day 3: Jurors shown autopsy photos, hear about gunshot that killed McKeesport officer Updated: 11:16 PM EST Nov 12, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Melissa Meyers Reporter Marcie Cipriani Reporter Jordan Cioppa Reporter PITTSBURGH — Testimony continued Thursday in the trial of the man accused of killing McKeesport police officer Sean Sluganski in 2023. Jonathan Morris faces multiple charges, including homicide, in the shooting death of Sluganski. Advertisement What happened the day Sluganski was killed According to court documents, Morris was experiencing a PTSD episode on the day of the shooting in February. His mother, a former McKeesport police officer, was the one who called 911. Documents state that Morris told two witnesses that police were trying to kill him and asked them to record him as he walked down the street. Sluganski and his partner, Chuck Thomas, responded to the scene. While attempting to stop Morris, Sluganski was shot and killed. Thomas returned fire and was also shot, but survived. Day Three: Sluganski Autopsy, ShotSpotter, Chuck Thomas Day 3 of the trial focused on medical findings surrounding Sluganski's death, a ShotSpotter expert and Sluganski's partner, Officer Chuck Thomas. Chuck Thomas Testimony: Thomas described what he testified was an attempt by him and Sluganski to take Morris to the hospital after Morris’ mother reported that the man was violent and suffering from PTSD. Thomas described how the officers followed Morris in a vehicle, and then spoke about the shooting. The jury also saw video of Thomas being interviewed at the hospital two hours after the shooting. See excerpts from the video below. Thomas broke down in court as he testified about that interview, specifically the moment that he realized Sluganski had died. During cross examination, Defense attorney Carmen Robinson questioned if Thomas was trained on dealing with mentally ill people to which he said yes. The defense also questioned the tactics used that day. Thomas said he used his police car as a tool to block Morris, and denied that it was “aggressive,” after Robinson asked. Thomas said in court he fired back 16 shots through the window and windshield of his police car. Allegheny County Homicide Detective Nicole DePaoli Allegheny County Homicide Detective Nicole DePaoli testified after Thomas. She interviewed Thomas at UPMC Mercy after the shooting. The prosecutors showed photos in court of a bullet fragment that came from Thomas’ left hand. Other photos showed a bullet hole in Thomas’ shirt. The detective said she was told that day Thomas had a gunshot wound to the face, the hand, and neck. McKeesport officer Daniel Krejdovsky McKeesport officer Daniel Krejdovsky was the last person to testify on Thursday. He said he was 1.5 miles away from the shooting when he heard Thomas screaming on the radio that he was shot. Krejdovsky said he drove to the scene. He added that the suspect was rolling on the ground in the road and said he almost ran him over but swerved. ShotSpotter Expert: A ShotSpotter expert said 44 gunshots were detected the day that Sluganski died. Autopsy Findings: The prosecution called interim Allegheny County Chief Medical Examiner and forensic pathologist Dr. W. Ashton Ennis to the stand. Ennis did not perform the autopsy himself but reviewed the reports independently to provide his conclusions. He believes Sluganski died from a gunshot wound and the manner of his death was homicide. Jurors were shown photos of the autopsy as Ennis explained the bullet paths and identified entrance and exit wounds. Ennis testified that one gunshot traveled from Sluganski’s left shoulder area through his body, damaging both lungs and his aorta. Ennis said that shot was what ultimately killed Sluganski. Another gunshot wound, he believes, traveled from Sluganski’s left armpit out of his left chest, then through his left jaw and out of his mouth. He says that shot would have been survivable. During cross-examination, the defense focused on the fact that Ennis did not perform the autopsy and that amendments were made after the original report was finalized. The trial will resume Friday morning at the Allegheny County Courthouse. Trial Day 2: Jury hears from Medical Examiner's Office Tuesday morning's testimony began with a witness who helped perform the autopsy on Sluganski. Jurors were shown photos of Sluganski's work vest, which showed several projectile holes and a frayed area on the back. The witness walked jurors through the damage, pointing out impact points on the vest that corresponded with holes in Sluganski's work shirt and undershirt. The witness also testified that the only bullet recovered from Sluganski's body was the one found in his vest. A second witness from the medical examiner's office, who worked as the photographer of the autopsy and helped conduct X-rays of Sluganski and his clothing, was also called to testify. Trial Day 1: Jury Hears from First Responders, 911 call During the first day of the trial, several first responders took the stand and prosecutors played the radio transmissions from that afternoon in February 2023, including the moment that Sluganski and Thomas were shot. Thomas was shot in the face, but survived. The jury also heard the 911 call from Morris' mother, Candace Tyler. On the call, she described her son as ex-military, suffering from PTSD and violent. Tyler could be heard telling the call taker that she is a former police officer and there are guns at the home, but they were not accessible. Moments later, as the officers approached Morris, they can be heard on the radio transmission mentioning Morris' heavy pocket before they were shot. Why prosecutors dropped the death penalty Prosecutors initially planned to seek the death penalty for Morris but later decided against it after receiving his psychiatric records. The defense claims Morris suffers from PTSD after serving in the Marines. The trial began with 12 jurors and four alternates hearing testimony. Make WTAE a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks VIDEO: Frankie Muniz says he's recovering after crash at Daytona International Speedway Newly released Ring camera shows Brooklyn building collapsing WATCH: Master carver engraves crystals from last year's New Year's Eve ball Anthony Clark, a comedian and actor who starred on 'Yes, Dear,' dies