Oakdale police officer and Marine Charles Stipetich laid to rest today
BLAWNOX, Pa. (KDKA) - Today, Marine veteran and Oakdale police officer, Charles Stipetich, was laid to rest.
The 23-year-old was shot and killed last weekend in a road rage incident on Route 28.
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"In truth… it would be hard not to remember Chucky," pastor Daniel Smail said.
In droves - family, friends, law enforcement, and marines filled church pews as they tried to fight back tears during officer Charles Stipetich's funeral service.
"He always had a sense of what was most important in life," Smail said during the service.
At the time of Stipetich's death — what was important in life — was protecting his father, who the gunman also took aim at.
His dad, uninjured in the incident, is overwhelmed and struggled to speak during the service.
"For every parent that's in here and has children. Please hug your children, because tomorrow isn't guaranteed," Stipetich's father said while holding back tears.
Pastor Smail spoke about how Stipetich could light up any room he walked into.
"To shake his hand, to see his smile, to see his laugh allowed you to glimpse this young man's gigantic heart," Smail added.
And how his dedication to serving and helping others through the Marine Corps and Oakdale Police Department was never misguided.
"There was a wisdom and maturity in him that was unmistakable. Even in his younger years chuck was committed to serving and helping and kindness," Smail said.
The Fox Chapel graduate was only an officer for about a week before he was killed, but he is receiving respect from the community as though he was on the force for a lifetime.
A life was taken far too soon - but that life will never be forgotten as friends and family try to carry on Charles Stipetich's legacy.
The man who pulled the trigger, 40-year-old Kevin McSwiggen, is now facing homicide charges.
