Sean Carlin
SCHWENKSVILLE, Pa. – The
Pennsylvania state trooper killed Tuesday during a firearms training exercise
in suburban Philadelphia was fatally wounded when another trooper’s gun
accidentally discharged, Capt. James Raykovitz announced Wednesday afternoon.
“Preliminary evidence indicates
that Trooper (David) Kedra was struck by a bullet accidentally discharged by
another member of the Pennsylvania State Police,” Raykovitz said in a news release.
“However, more specific information regarding the investigation will not be
released at this time.”
State police did not disclose
any further information on the accident, which the agency is investigating with
the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. District Attorney Risa Ferman
did not return a message about the case.
Kedra, 26, was shot in the
chest Tuesday during a yearly training exercise at the Montgomery County Public
Safety Training Complex in Plymouth Meeting. He was airlifted to a hospital
where he was pronounced dead.
Kedra is the second trooper to
be fatally shot this month following Cpl. Bryon Dickson’s death in an ambush on
Sept. 12.
A 2010 graduate of Temple
University, Kedra was originally from northeast Philadelphia but recently moved
to Chester County, Lt. James Fisher said during a news conference outside the
Skippack barracks Wednesday morning. He enlisted in the state police in June
2012 and was assigned to the Skippack barracks in January 2013 following his
graduation from the academy.
Colleagues said Kedra was an
enthusiastic and motivated trooper who knew he wanted to get into law
enforcement.
“He was extremely proud to be a
Pennsylvania state trooper and he showed it,” said Trooper Derik Frymire, who
worked on Kedra’s squad. “He wanted to see everything, he wanted to be a part
of everything, he wanted to learn everything and those kind of qualities make
an outstanding patrol trooper.”
Joe Alkus, a criminal justice
professor at Temple, said his former student had visited to speak at one of his
introductory classes. Alkus recalled once asking Kedra what he thought was the
best day of his career.
“He says, ‘Every day is my best
day because I love being a trooper,’” Alkus said.
State Police Commissioner Frank
Noonan said it was with “an extremely heavy heart and deep sorrow” that he
announced the death of Kedra, the 96th member of the state police to be killed
in the line of duty.
“He died serving the people of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the men and women of the Pennsylvania
State Police mourn his loss and extend our sincere condolences to his family
and friends,” Noonan said.
Gov. Tom Corbett ordered
Pennsylvania flags to fly at half-staff at the state Capitol and in Montgomery
County.
