CONCORD, N.C. — No charges will be filed against a Kannapolis firefighter following a deadly shooting that happened on April 30th, according to the Concord Police Department.
Concord Police say David Pittarelli was following Ryan Cochran and his girlfriend for several miles on Concord Salisbury Road, just before 10:00pm on April 30th. After pulling into a neighborhood, Cochran and Pittarelli got into a fight. That’s when Pittarelli was shot and killed.
Police do not believe the two knew each other and have not released why Pittarelli was following Cochran.
Chief Merl Hamilton says this is a case of self-defense, not excessive force. Hamilton says this may have been a case of mistaken identity, and we may never know why Pittarelli was following Cochran.
District Attorney Roxann Vaneekhoven released this statement:
“Under the law as it stands in North Carolina, a person is entitled to protect himself and/or a third person from great bodily harm or death, as long as he is not the aggressor in the situation. Based on a thorough review of the facts of this case, the physical and forensic evidence collected, and statements of witnesses, the Cabarrus County DA’s Office will not be pursuing criminal charges against Ryan Cochran for protecting himself and Jessica Troutman on the night of April 30, 2015.”
