The teen at the center of an Osceola County shooting spree two years ago has pleaded guilty.
Konrad Schafer was one of four accused of being involved in the killing of two people back in 2013. At the time of his arrested, police said he killed David Guerrero and Eric Roopnarine "for fun."
Schafer pleading guilty to two counts of first-degree murder. In exchange he’ll have all his other charges dropped.
"Fifteen years old ... that's the hard part to wrap your head around," State Attorney Jeff Ashton said. "That this was a 15-year-old."
Investigators said ballistic evidence points to Schafer and another man being responsible for shooting into random homes and cars in Kissimmee two years ago.
"This community lived in terror for about two weeks in July of 2013," Osceola County Sheriff Bob Hansell said. "And now today there is some solace for the family."
One of those bullets killed 17-year-old David Guerrero near a bus stop on his way to work. Days later, prosecutors say Schafer and three others forced their way into the home of 22-year-old Eric Roopnarine and killed him. In the police report, Roopnarine's last words are noted as "Please don't kill me."
A friend of one of the victims said he is pleased with the guilty plea.
"Honestly, he knows he did it. And I think him right now pleading guilty is the best thing for him," the friend said.
While satisfied with the plea, Roopnarine's father, Pooran Roopnarine, said he was too distraught to speak on camera.
"It is hard for me to say anything right now," Pooran Roopnarine said.
"What he pleaded to or his potential sentence is exactly the same as it would have been had he gone to trial," Ashton said. "So, we didn't really give anything up except for some sort of peripheral charges and the other shootings."
How much time Schafer will spend in prison is still to be decided. There will be a sentence hearing at 9 a.m. April 15, 2016. Schafer could face up to life in prison.
PREVIOUS STORIES
- June 27, 2013: 17-year-old Kissimmee boy shot, killed on way to bus stop
- July 9, 2013: Poinciana man's death ruled a homicide
- July 19, 2013: 15-year-old boy arrested in 2 Osceola murders
- Jan. 9, 2014: Suspect takes plea deal in Eric Roopnarine's murder
- Jan. 29: Father of Osceola teen accused in 2 murders takes plea deal
- June 11, 2015: Jury finds David Damus guilty of murder, armed burglary
- Sept. 28, 2015: Victoria Rios murder trial postponed
- Oct. 13, 2015: Konrad Schafer murder trial set for January
(Clockwise L-R) Konrad Schafer, Victoria Rios, Juan Sebastian Muriel and David Damus were arrested July 9, 2013 and charged with first-degree murder, home invasion with a firearm and grand theft for the murder of Eric Roopnarine. (PHOTOS/Osceola County Sheriff's Office)
David Guerrero, 17, was shot and killed while walking to a bus stop on June 26, 2013. Eric Roopnarine, 22, was shot and killed during a robbery on July 4, 2013. (PHOTOS/File)