State Police Firearms Instructor Charged In Accidental Trooper Shooting Death Sentenced
By Jim Melwert
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. (CBS) - A former state police firearms instructor will spend two weeks in Montgomery County prison for an accidental shooting during a training session that killed 26-year-old state trooper David Kedra last fall.
Richard Schroeter is sentenced to three-18 months confinement, the first two of those weeks in county prison, and the remainder on house arrest followed by four years probation .
Tempers flared outside the courtroom following the verdict. Family members were angry with the DA's office for not pursuing more severe charges:
"It's okay, it's okay if you accidentally shoot someone if you're a cop. That's the message I got today."
"There are no winners today," says Prosecutor Samantha Caufman. "No matter what happened it's not going to fill the hole in that family's lives, in their hearts."
Schroeter's attorney, Timothy Woodward, says with respect to the judge's decision, with Schroeter's exemplary service with the State Police and his volunteer service with a local fire company, there was no need for prison time:
"There's far too much anger, far too much hate, and far too much vengeance, and I can't imagine that didn't have an effect."
In his allocation, Schroeter turned to the Kedra family, saying he hopes someday they can forgive him, but if not he understands, as he'll never be able to forgive himself.
