Seven Charged in Connection with Lower Burrell Officer Kotecki's Death

Detectives from the Westmoreland County District Attorney's office have charged seven people in connection to the death of Lower Burrel police officer Derek Kotecki.

Kotecki, 40, was last October by Charles Post at the Dairy Queen on Greensburg Road—at the Plum/New Kensington border. Post had been on the run from police for about 10 days after shooting at his former boss and threatening to kill police.

Charles Post also was killed at the scene.

Charles Post's brother, Chad Post, 35; Amanda Christyn Walters, 23; and Nicole Martha Walters, 37, all of Lower Burrell, have been charged with two counts of hindering apprehension and two counts of conspiracy for helping Charles Post, hide from the police in between the time he shot at his former boss and when he killed Kotecki.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Amanda and Nicole Walters gave Charles post food, money and a pre-paid cellphone while they visited him at a Plum Borough residence.

Four people who illegally owned the .40-caliber Smith & Wesson pistol used to kill Kotecki also were charged.

Robert George Zentner, 56, of Lower Burrell; Meryl Edwin Smith III, 33 of Arnold;  were charged with providing false information on firearm ownership, not being licensed to sell or transfer a firearm to another person and conspiracy.

Nevin A. Lawson, 41, of Allegheny Township, was charged with not being licensed to sell or transfer a firearm to another person, and making a false written statement.

James Anthony Ameris III, 52, of Lower Burrell, was charged with not being licensed to sell or transfer a firearm to another person, and possession of a firearm prohibited.

For a more detailed look at the chain of ownership, see the Post-Gazette article.

Ameris' preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 3 in front of Magisterial Judge Cheryl Peck-Yakopec. Post's is scheduled for April 4. The preliminary hearings for Amanda and Nicole Walters, Zentner, Smith and Lawson have been scheduled for April 10.

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