1 dead in Concord shooting

A Kannapolis firefighter was involved in a shooting in which a Charlotte man died after an altercation between strangers in two vehicles Thursday night, Concord police said.

The fatal shooting of David Robert Pittarelli, 33, happened about 9:50 p.m. on Charing Place S.W., a residential area off South Union Street, police said. Pittarelli was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Police on Friday identified Kannapolis firefighter Ryan Lee Cochran, 22, of Concord, as the other person involved in the incident.

Police said Cochran and his girlfriend were driving on Concord Salisbury Road toward Concord when a vehicle began following them.

The vehicle followed Cochran and his girlfriend for several miles and into the residential neighborhood, police said.

Cochran stopped near the intersection of Plott Drive and Charing Lane, where an altercation ensued and Pittarelli was shot, police said.

“There is no indication at this time that the parties involved in the incident knew each other,” police said in a statement Friday.

No charges were filed Friday. Police said they are still investigating the shooting.

Cochran, who joined the fire department in 2012, has been suspended with pay pending the results of the investigation, the city of Kannapolis said in a statement.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Mr. David Pittarelli and Mr. Ryan Cochran,” the city said. “This is a tragedy for everyone involved. We will cooperate with the Concord Police Department and the Cabarrus County District Attorney’s Office in their investigation of this very unfortunate incident.”

This story was originally published May 1, 2015 at 5:49 AM with the headline "1 dead in Concord shooting."