GUILTY WI - Seth Hammes, 17, killing recorded on video, Monroe County, 24 Sept 2005

[Jules]

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Seth Hammes was filming in the woods when his camcorder recorded the crack of gunshots, the 17-year-old's screams and the voice of the alleged shooter, promising help that never came.

Authorities say they might never have learned what happened to Hammes, who later died in the woods.

"But right next to him was the videotape," Monroe County Sheriff Pete Quirin said Thursday. "That's when we knew we had a homicide on our hands."

After viewing and listening to the tape, police tracked down 24-year-old Russell Schroeder, who now faces charges of reckless homicide and reckless injury. Schroeder was being held on $250,000 bond. If convicted, he faces up to 85 years in prison.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3376370

 

[fran]

Oh my gosh! It must have been horrifying for LE to listen to this tape.

I don't believe the perp. He said it was an accident, that he thought he was shooting at a squirrel. He said he 'was afraid' he'd get in trouble if he called anyone.

The victim was shot TWICE!

No way this was an accident!

JMHO
fran

 

[Jules]

I agree - accident, my azz.

 

[MrsMush99]

I agree, now way was this an accident. If it were they would have gotten help.

 

[Norma]

Amazing.

 

[Alta]

LA CROSSE, Wis. - Seth Hammes was filming in the woods when his camcorder recorded the crack of gunshots, the 17-year-old’s screams and the voice of the alleged shooter, promising help that never came.

Authorities say they might never have learned what happened to Hammes, who later died in the woods.

“But right next to him was the videotape,” Monroe County Sheriff Pete Quirin said Thursday. “That’s when we knew we had a homicide on our hands.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9541458/

 

[sandraladeda]

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Seth Hammes was filming in the woods when his camcorder recorded the crack of gunshots, the 17-year-old's screams and the voice of the alleged shooter, promising help that never came.

Authorities say they might never have learned what happened to Hammes, who later died in the woods.

"But right next to him was the videotape," Monroe County Sheriff Pete Quirin said Thursday. "That's when we knew we had a homicide on our hands."

After viewing and listening to the tape, police tracked down 24-year-old Russell Schroeder, who now faces charges of reckless homicide and reckless injury. Schroeder was being held on $250,000 bond. If convicted, he faces up to 85 years in prison.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3376370

Chilling. So senseless. It sounds like he might have survived if he had gotten help in time. I can see how you can shoot twice if you think it's an animal you're aiming at, but once you discover you've made a mistake DO THE RIGHT THING!!:banghead:

 

[concernedperson]

He may have been a stalker for just that purpose.

 

[lostfaith]

This is HORRIBLE! Reminds me soooo much of my 17 year old son. Loves to hunt, but also has a camcorder and just goes out to "shoot" dear with his camera. My son also likes to "tinker" with small engines.

The article says he went out with 2 friends. Wonder what happened to the other one. Did he not wonder where his friend went to when he left the woods?

 

[Bobbisangel]

He thought he was shooting at a squirrel??? What is the comparison between a young man and a squirrel??? The jury is gonna love that one.

 

[mysteriew]

A man accused of shooting to death a high school senior whose camcorder recorded screams and the crack of gunshots has pleaded not guilty.

Russell Schroeder III, faces one count of first-degree reckless homicide and another count of first-degree reckless injury in the September death of 17-year-old Seth Hammes of La Crosse.

Hammes was videotaping scenery in the woods near Cataract when he was shot twice.

The recording Hammes made eventually led authorities to Schroeder as a suspect.
http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=108862

 

[OkieGranny]

From May 2006:

http://lacrossetribune.com/news/spa...cle_4a7f9473-fbfc-5111-80ac-29ab191eb1d7.html

After being told he was going to prison for 20 years, Russell Schroeder III had the same response he showed last fall after fatally shooting a La Crosse teen while hunting squirrels in rural Monroe County. He said nothing...

He pleaded no contest March 31 to second-degree reckless homicide and first-degree reckless injury, both while armed.

In court documents, Schroeder told authorities he saw what he thought was a squirrel, fired two shots, then heard a human cry out... On Hammes' camcorder, a male voice can be heard telling the teen he would get help. Instead, Schroeder went to a birthday party, spent time at home playing video games, and then went to work.