Associated Press Published

Nitro Officer Who Killed Man Says He Had No Choice

9 mm handgun

A Nitro police officer who fatally shot a man says he had no other choice.

Sgt. T.A. Jarrell tells WSAZ-TV that 52-year-old David Lane Cooke of Nitro fired a gun at him as he approached the man. He says they then exchanged gunfire.

Jarrell says he was protecting not only himself but several bystanders.

The shooting occurred on Aug. 1 at a boat dock.

Jarrell says he was responding to a call about a domestic disturbance when he was told that the suspect had gone to the dock. He says Cooke was standing outside his vehicle when he arrived at the dock.

The Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting. The Nitro Police Department is conducting an internal investigation.