Teen's camcorder records his death (camcorder recorded his own murder)

cnn.com ^ | September 30, 2005 | AP

[indcons]

LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (AP) -- 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.

Family members said Hammes and two of his friends had gone bow-hunting Saturday morning in the woods near Little Falls, about 35 miles northeast of La Crosse.

Hammes put down his bow and picked up his camcorder that afternoon.

According to the criminal complaint, he was shot in the pelvis and then the heart. His camcorder fell to the ground but caught the sound of the shots and his own screams.

[indcons]

Sad story but will justice be done in this case? Of course, the murderer doesn't face the death penalty. He can look forward to merely 85 years in a prison with cable t.v., visitation rights, free food, and other goodies.

[satchmodog9]

You forgot all the prison sex he can shake a shiv at.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Crazy, why would somebody do something like that? One thing is for sure. Considering his crime and the fact that he's going into prison at age 24, the convicts are sure gonna like him. He'll be the cellblock sweetheart in no time at all.

[upchuck]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1494455/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1494121/posts

[Bob J]

"He can look forward to merely 85 years in a prison with cable t.v., visitation rights, free food, and other goodies."

So you're saying prison should be a goal for most people?

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Instead, authorities say, Schroeder went to a birthday party, home to play video games and then to his job as a custodian at the Army's Fort McCoy near Sparta.

Killer has political potential if he can make it to Massachusetts.

[indcons]

Searched for it before posting. Didn't find a thread.

[rdcorso]

They must have some real tall squirrels up there if this fool was aiming so high.I don't think this was an accident at all.It's not easy shooting someone once in the heart and once in the pelvis by mistake.I find it even harder to believe since he knew that his friend was there with him.I was almost shot while deer hunting a few years ago.I was walking up a hill to my spot but I didn't know I was pushing a deer up in front of me.As soon as I reached the top I saw the deer and within a second I heard a gunshot that sounded real close.Before I could react I saw a puff of smoke fly off the deer which was only fifteen yards in front of me and I fell to the ground and rolled back down the hill checking myself to see if I was shot.Thank God I wasn't hit but it scared the hell out of me.After talking to the shooter I found out that I scared the hell out of him too.I was also mad as hell because nobody else is allowed to hunt the land I was on.This guy was supposed to be hunting on the neighbor's farm but he stood on the property line and took a shot he shouldn't have.

[upchuck]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/search?s=camcorder&ok=Search&q=quick&m=any&o=time

[indcons]

Thanks!!

[popdonnelly]

The perpetrator should hang.