No charges against Kannapolis firefighter in shooting

Kannapolis firefighter Ryan Lee Cochran was protecting himself and his girlfriend when he fatally shot a Charlotte man who pursued their vehicle before “charging and lunging” at Cochran near Cochran’s girlfriend’s home, Concord Interim Police Chief Merl Hamilton said Tuesday.

Cochran, who was suspended with pay after the April 30 shooting, will not be charged, Hamilton and Cabarrus County District Attorney Roxann Vaneekhoven said. Kannapolis officials said the suspension will be lifted.

David Bernard Pittarelli, 33, of Charlotte, died after being hit with rounds five to seven times, Hamilton said a preliminary autopsy report shows. He had gunshot wounds to his front and left side torso.

Police believe Pittarelli consumed cocaine, alcohol and possibly other substances before pursuing Cochran’s red pickup on Concord-Salisbury Road the night of April 30, Hamilton said at a news conference at police headquarters.

Pittarelli’s pursuit of the pickup may have been a case of mistaken identity, Hamilton said.

Cochran’s girlfriend resembles Pittarelli’s, and the pickup looks like one belonging to a neighbor of Pittarelli’s girlfriend, Hamilton said.

Police learned Pittarelli had assaulted his girlfriend, who lives in the Kannapolis area, less than an hour before Pittarelli pursued the pickup, the chief said.

Cochran and his girlfriend. Jessica Troutman, had left a Kannapolis Intimidators baseball game and begun traveling back to Concord when Troutman noticed a car quickly approaching from behind, Hamilton said.

Cochran, 22, asked Troutman to drive because he’d had two beers at the game, the chief said. Cochran was not impaired, which others at the game confirmed to police, the chief said.

The approaching car was driven “in a very aggressive and erratic manner,” Hamilton said Troutman told police. The car would near the pickup’s bumper, swerve all over the road and return to the pickup’s bumper, Hamilton said.

Footage from a traffic camera confirms Pittarelli was driving aggressively and nearly struck the pickup, Hamilton said.

As the vehicles neared Troutman’s home, Cochran removed his gun from the center console because he and Troutman had grown “very concerned” about the other vehicle, Hamilton said.

Once both vehicles stopped, Pittarelli got out of his car and immediately started talking “loudly and aggressively,” and he seemed agitated, the chief said.

Troutman told police she noticed the stranger had no shirt or shoes on and was wearing only basketball shorts. Pittarelli advanced on them, yelling loudly at both of them to shake his hand, the chief said.

Cochran moved his gun from his right hand to his left hand so he could shake the stranger’s hand, Cochran told police. That’s when Pittarelli noticed the gun, became enraged and shouted, “Are you going to shoot me?” and “Kill me, you (obscenity),” Hamilton said Cochran told police.

Cochran retreated toward the front of his truck. Troutman moved between the men, asking Pittarelli to leave. Pittarelli then struck Troutman in her neck, knocking her to the ground, Hamilton said.

Pittarelli charged toward Cochran and lunged at him, the chief said. Pittarelli was 6-feet-4-inches tall and 276 pounds. Cochran is 5-feet-10 inches and 188 pounds, Hamilton said.

As Pittarelli lunged at Cochran, Cochran pointed his gun and fired, Hamilton said. Pittarelli continued to lunge forward and Cochran continued to fire – nine times in all, the chief said.

“The physical evidence at the scene indicates that Cochran was backing away from Pittarelli and retreating when he fired his gun as Pittarelli continued to charge towards him,” Hamilton said.

Cochran then called 911, retrieved a small medical bag from his pickup and with the help of a neighbor attempted first aid and CPR, Hamilton said.

Cochran and Troutman voluntarily went to police headquarters and gave several hours of statements and voluntarily turned over their cellphones for review, Hamilton said.

Cochran had a concealed carry permit for the gun, the chief said.

Hamilton said his department “expresses condolences to all involved with this tragic incident, but in particular to the Pittarelli family.”

In a statement, the city of Kannapolis said: “Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the family and friends of both Mr. David Pittarelli and Mr. Ryan Cochran. This is a very tragic event that has profoundly impacted our community.”

This story was originally published May 12, 2015 at 8:01 AM with the headline "No charges against Kannapolis firefighter in shooting."