Police corporal charged in accidental fatal shooting of state trooper

A Pennsylvania State Police corporal was charged with five counts of reckless endangerment on Tuesday for a firearms training accident that killed a state trooper on Sept. 30.

Authorities say Cpl. Richard Schroeter, 43, pulled the trigger on his firearm while discussing the trigger mechanism during an annual training exercise at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Complex in Conshohocken.

The weapon discharged, hitting 26-year-old David Kedra in the chest. He was transported by helicopter to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Kedra, of Rhawnhurst, graduated from Roman Catholic High School in 2006. He graduated Temple University with a degree in Criminal Justice in 2010 and a GPA of 3.71.

Kedra joined the state police in 2012 and was assigned to Troop K, the Skippack barracks at the time of his death.

Kedra left behind a fiancee with whom he had recently bought a home in Pottstown, a sister, two brothers and his parents.

Schroeter, of Kintnersville in Bucks County, graduated from Palisades High School in 1990, according to public records.

Montgomery County prosecutors say after considering charges of homicide, involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangerment, the grand jury found sufficient evidence that Schroeter put those present in harm’s way by not following safety precautions.