Trials
BREAKING
Trainer Pleads Guilty in Soldier's Death
Sean Stark, 38, pleaded guilty Thursday to involuntary manslaughter for shooting 18-year-old soldier Krystofer Lopez during firearms training at Letterkenny Army Depot. A judge will sentence him on Feb. 18, 2027.
By Crime Talk Network Staff Writer ·
The plea is the conviction, and it is involuntary manslaughter rather than murder. Eight years is the most the law allows, and the judge does not pick the term until February. Lopez was killed during a training demonstration, and that is what this plea admits.
Sean Stark pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Harrisburg to involuntary manslaughter in the death of Krystofer Lopez.
Lopez was 18, a private first class assigned as a gate guard at Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. On March 12 he was in a classroom at the police barracks for instruction before he was supposed to qualify with a handgun, a rifle, and a shotgun. Stark, 38, of Carlisle, was a Department of the Army police officer and the instructor. He stepped outside, loaded his duty handgun, and came back without clearing it. He then demonstrated how to draw, aim, and fire while the gun was pointed at Lopez. It went off and hit Lopez in the chest. Lopez died. The Army later promoted him to specialist.
He admitted killing Lopez while conducting that training in a grossly negligent way. The maximum penalty is eight years in prison, plus a fine and supervised release. Sentencing is set for Feb. 18, 2027.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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