Man guilty in Johnson County bar killing of innocent bystander
A 33-year-old man pleaded no contest and was found guilty Tuesday of killing another man in December at a Johnson County bar.
Gregory B. David Cooper, of Edgerton in Johnson County, pleaded no contest to a charge of reckless second-degree murder in the death of 23-year-old Tyler Knudsen. As part of the plea agreement, the attorneys will recommend that Cooper be sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison.
The incident occurred Dec. 19 at the Boxcar Bar & Grill, 100 E. Second St., in Edgerton.
Cooper had been involved in an altercation with another bar patron and was walking out of the bar when he felt someone bump him from behind, according to previous court testimony.
Cooper then swung a pool cue and struck Knudsen in the neck, causing a fatal injury. Knudsen had not been involved in the altercation.
Sentencing for Cooper is scheduled for Nov. 18 in Johnson County District Court.
Tony Rizzo: 816-234-4435, @trizzkc
This story was originally published August 30, 2016 at 2:12 PM with the headline "Man guilty in Johnson County bar killing of innocent bystander."