Colleague killed trooper at Montco training center

A STATE TROOPER who died after being shot at a Conshohocken training center Tuesday afternoon was hit by a bullet that was "accidentally discharged by another member of the Pennsylvania State Police," according to authorities.

The loss of Trooper David Kedra's life and the knowledge that it was accidentally taken at the hands of one of his colleagues is another painful blow to the law enforcement agency, which is now in its third week of the search for survivalist Eric Frein, who allegedly claimed the life of a state trooper in Blooming Grove, Pike County, on Sept. 12.

State Police released very little information about the death of Kedra, 26, who was shot once in the chest about 5 p.m. at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Center on Conshohocken Road near Academy Drive. The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office and State Police are conducting the ongoing investigation.

Lt. Jim Fisher, commander of the Skippack barracks where Kedra was detailed, refused to answer questions about the investigation at a news conference yesterday morning, choosing instead to talk about the legacy Kedra left behind.

"Most days, Trooper Kedra was here well before his shift. His investigations were thorough. He liked to dig into what he came across," Fisher said. "He was an excellent trooper, and it was an honor to work with him."

Kedra was raised in Northeast Philadelphia and graduated from Roman Catholic High School in 2006. He then moved on to Temple University, where he graduated with a degree in criminal justice in 2010. He joined the State Police Academy in June 2012 and was detailed to Troop K's Skippack barracks in January 2013.

After only six months on the job, Kedra was named trooper of the month at the Skippack barracks.

Kedra is survived by his parents, two brothers, a sister and his fiancee, with whom he had just purchased a house.

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