NORRISTOWN — A Philadelphia man accused of fatally shooting his wife as they traveled in a vehicle in Rockledge, after a party at which he claimed his wife “disrespected” him, has a September trial date.
Jury selection will begin Sept. 22, 2026, for the trial of Jose Antonio Luna, 59, of the 4000 block of Vista Street, who faces charges of first- and third-degree murder, person not to possess a firearm and possessing an instrument of crime in connection with the alleged Feb. 21, 2026, deadly domestic dispute.
Judge Wendy G. Rothstein set the trial date when Luna was formally arraigned on the charges in Montgomery County Court on Monday.
Luna will remain in the county jail without bail while awaiting trial.
Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Alane McLaughlin is handling the case. Defense lawyer Joseph Todd Schultz represents Luna.
The investigation began about 10:05 p.m. Feb. 21, when Rockledge police were dispatched to the area of Huntington Pike and Fillmore Street after a SEPTA bus driver used his emergency system to report a shooting at that location and provided a description of the shooter, according to authorities.
Arriving officers found the lifeless body of Alisett Schubert, 48, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, lying outside a silver Nissan Murano that she had been driving, according to a criminal complaint filed by county Detective John Wittenberger and Rockledge Detective Mitchell Meed.
Schubert was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Jose Luna
The SEPTA bus driver told detectives he was traveling southbound on Huntington Pike near Fillmore Street when he approached the silver Nissan Murano that was stopped in front of him, and he heard two or three “pops.” The bus driver observed a male exit the front passenger seat of the vehicle and approach the driver’s side of the car.
The bus driver said the male opened the driver’s side door, and the female driver ‘slouched’ outside of the vehicle. At that time, the bus driver noticed the male had a gun, believed to be a revolver, in his right hand, according to court papers.
The bus driver reported that the male had walked away from the scene.
Luna was taken into custody about a mile away by Philadelphia police, who heard a description of the shooter broadcast over police radio, in the 1200 block of Rhawn Street.
“The male, later identified as Luna, was walking and talking on his cellphone. As officers stopped Luna, he turned around, pulled out a gun and put it up to his head,” Wittenberger and Meed alleged in the arrest affidavit.
Luna attempted to shoot himself twice, but officers heard the firearm make a clicking sound and realized it was out of ammunition, so they moved toward Luna, court documents indicate.
“Luna eventually dropped the gun and proceeded to get on the ground,” Wittenberger and Meed alleged.
A .38-caliber revolver Luna possessed had five spent shell casings inside and detectives determined the gun was registered to Schubert.
During an interview with detectives, Luna admitted to shooting his wife. Luna claimed he and his wife had been at a party earlier in the day and that he became angry at her because she “disrespected him in front of others,” according to the arrest affidavit.
“Luna told detectives that he had slapped his wife in the back of her neck when he felt disrespected. Luna stated he remained angry with her until they departed the party in the Nissan Murano,” Wittenberger and Meed alleged.
According to Luna’s statement to detectives, Schubert was driving the vehicle, with her purse resting on her right side, and Luna was in the passenger seat. Luna allegedly knew that his wife kept a revolver in her purse.
“The two started arguing and Schubert stopped the car in the traffic lane and told Luna to get out of the vehicle and walk home,” detectives alleged.
Luna told detectives the pair wrestled over the purse and he took possession of it and placed it on the floor next to his feet.
“Luna explained that he opened the purse and saw the handgun. Luna stated his wife attempted to take the purse back when Luna pulled the revolver from the purse and shot his wife one time,” Wittenberger and Meed alleged.
Luna stated his wife yelled, “Oh my God,” and attempted to exit the vehicle.
Luna allegedly told detectives he shot his wife “four more times” and believed he had one round left in the handgun so he could shoot himself later.
During the investigation, a friend of Schubert told detectives that Schubert had confided in her that she had suffered physical, mental and verbal abuse from Luna in the past. The friend told detectives that she previously witnessed Luna punch Schubert in the face, according to court documents.
In court documents, detectives alleged Luna had an extensive criminal history, including arrests for robbery, burglary and grand theft. With the charges, detectives alleged Luna was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his previous criminal history.
A conviction of first-degree murder, which is an intentional killing, carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.
A conviction of third-degree murder, which is a killing committed with malice or a hardness of heart, carries a possible maximum sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison.