Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter in Death of Army Specialist at Letterkenny Depot
Sean Stark, 38, of Carlisle, a city in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty on November 12, 2026, in federal court to involuntary manslaughter in the death of soldier Krystofer Lopez at Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Saporito Jr. presided, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced the plea.
According to U.S. Attorney Brian D. Miller, Stark was a Department of the Army Police Officer at Letterkenny Army Depot, and Lopez was a Private First Class assigned to serve as a gate guard at the depot. On March 12, 2026, Stark was providing Lopez pre-marksmanship instruction in a classroom inside the police barracks before they were to depart for the range, where Lopez would qualify with a handgun, rifle and shotgun.
During the instruction, Stark went outside and loaded his duty handgun and failed to clear his weapon upon returning inside. He then conducted a drill demonstrating how to unholster his weapon, aim and fire while the firearm was pointed at Lopez. The weapon discharged, striking Lopez in the chest and killing him.
Lopez was posthumously promoted to the rank of Specialist. U.S. Attorney Miller said the office's thoughts and prayers remain with the victim's family and loved ones, and that the plea offers some measure of comfort while ensuring accountability.
The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Ford and Alisan Martin are prosecuting it. The maximum penalty under federal law is 8 years of imprisonment, followed by supervised release and a fine, with the sentence to be imposed by the judge after consideration of the federal sentencing statutes and guidelines.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：美国司法部总部大楼（联邦固定图库）。 / Photo: U.S. Department of Justice headquarters building (federal asset library).
