Killer Of Tarpon Springs Police Officer In 2014 Shooting Pleads Guilty: Report

TARPON SPRINGS, FL - Marco Parilla pleaded guilty in a Pinellas County courtroom Thursday afternoon to the fatal shooting of a 17-year veteran of the Tarpon Springs Police Department. Parilla, 26, entered the plea to a charge of first degree murder in the 2014 death of Officer Charlie Kondek. A trial will determine if he gets the death penalty.

“First, like, to say sorry to you,” Parilla said to a packed courtroom of Kondek’s family, friends and fellow officers. “I’m writing this apology to ask you for your forgiveness. I never wanted to take the life of no one, let alone a hero,” said Parilla, as he read a prepared statement, News Channel 8 reported.

Watch: Killer Of Tarpon Springs Police Officer In 2014 Shooting Pleads Guilty

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Police Chief Robert Kochen says the state attorney “has or is seeking the death penalty. We fully support that.”

Kondek, a father of six, was shot and then run over by a car during a routine noise complaint call Dec. 21, 2014. He died later that morning.

Kondek served about five years with the New York City Police Department before joining the Tarpon Springs department.

Kondek, 45, left behind a wife, Teresa, and six children. Kondek was standing outside of his cruiser when he was shot, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

Read the News Channel 8 story here.

1st photo from Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page; other photos from Patch.com archives.