In the press conference on Tuesday, interim Chief Hamilton laid out the following sequence of events, based on the evidence that Hamilton says resulted in the District Attorney not pressing any charges:



Cochran and his friend, Jessica Troutman left a (Kannapolis Intimidators) baseball game and began travelling back to Concord on Concord-Salisbury Road. Troutman was driving Cochran's red pick up truck.



While traveling on Concord-Salisbury Road, Troutman noticed a car approaching them from behind in a fast manner. She reported that the car was being driven in a very aggressive and erratic manner.



The car (driven by Pittarelli) followed Troutman and Cochran approximately 5 miles before Troutman turned on her street. The car continued to be driven aggressively and erratically as Troutman drove on Concord-Salisbury Road, left onto Branchview Drive, right onto Union Street South and left onto Plott.



Troutman reported that while the car was following them in this manner, the car would come close to her vehicle's bumper, swerve all over the road and then come back close to her vehicle's bumper.



Troutman reported that on two separate occasions when she was getting ready to turn onto a new street, the car came into the lane directly beside the driver's side, and then when the light turned green and she proceeded forward, the car suddenly accelerated and got back in behind them.



Troutman indicated that on one of these occasions the car almost crashed into the truck she was driving.



· Footage from a traffic camera confirmed that Pittarelli was driving aggressively and almost struck the red truck.



· According to Troutman and Cochran's statements, when the car turned on to Plott Drive and they were almost at Troutman's house, they became very concerned, and Cochran took his gun out of the center console of the truck. Troutman pulled the truck over just shy of her residence.



· Once stopped, Pittarelli got out of his car and advanced towards the truck. Troutman and Cochran both exited and stayed near the truck. Troutman remained just outside of the driver's side door while Cochran moved to the rear left corner of his vehicle.



· Cochran and Troutman stated Pittarelli immediately started talking loudly and aggressively, and seemed agitated.



· Troutman noticed Pittarelli had no shirt or shoes on and was wearing only basketball shorts. Pittarelli advanced on Troutman and Cochran yelling loudly at both of them to shake his hand. Troutman made a slight hand movement to do this. Pittarelli then aggressively advanced towards Cochran, while continuing to yell and demand Cochran shake his hand.



· Cochran moved the hand gun from his right hand to his left hand. He indicates he did this so he could shake hands. At this point Pittarelli apparently noticed the handgun and became enraged beginning to shout "are you going to shoot me" and "kill me you (obscenity).



· Cochran retreated back away from Pittarelli towards the front of his truck. Troutman moved between to the two men, asking Pittarelli to leave.



· At this point, Pittarelli struck Troutman in the neck, knocking her to the ground. Pittarelli then charged at and lunged towards Cochran. Pittarelli measured approximately 6"4" in height with a weight of 276 lbs. Cochran is approximately 5"10" and 188 lbs.



· As Pittarelli charged at and lunged towards Cochran, Cochran pointed his handgun and fired. Pittarelli continued to charge forward after the initial shots and Cochran continued to fire. Cochran fired his handgun nine times.



· 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.



· The preliminary autopsy report indicates Pittarelli was hit with rounds five to seven times. A final analysis of entry and exit wounds could determine the final count. Pittarelli suffered gunshot wounds to his front and left side torso.



· Cochran then made the initial 911 call. Cochran retrieved a small medical bag from his vehicle and with the assistance of a neighbor attempted first aid to include CPR.



· Officers arrived and took control of the scene. Cochran and Troutman voluntarily came to Police HQ and gave several hours of statements and voluntarily turned over their cell phones for review.



Further investigation revealed:



· Pittarelli did not attend the ballgame. Indications are he left the home of a friend after having a domestic confrontation with his girlfriend wherein she reported to another that Pittarelli had assaulted her. Based on what was reported, this assault on his girlfriend occurred less than one hour before Pittarelli pursued Cochran's vehicle.



· There are indications Pittarelli consumed a quantity of impairing substances (possibly cocaine, alcohol, and potentially other substances) prior to his pursuing the Cochran vehicle.



· There is unconfirmed information that Pittarelli's interest in the Cochran vehicle may have been a case of mistaken identity.



· Cochran reported he had his girlfriend Troutman drive his pickup truck from the baseball game that evening since he had consumed two beers at the game.



· There is no evidence to suggest any impairment on Cochran's behalf. Others at the game were interviewed and confirmed that Cochran was not impaired at any time that evening.



· Cochran had a concealed carry permit for the weapon that was in his truck that evening.



· Officers with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department reported to Concord detectives working this case that they had come in contact with Pittarelli several times when responding to calls for service at Pittarelli's home. After seeing Pittarelli enraged and dealing with him at these calls for service, these CMPD officers stated they felt Pittarelli was dangerous enough that an alert was placed on the residence and officers district-wide were made aware to not respond to his residence alone.