Gastonia Police Department has reported the arrest of 36-year-old Laketta Shunta English, who is facing charges in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident that occurred back in October. The collision tragically took the life of 28-year-old Cody Cochran and seriously wounded another unidentified pedestrian. According to QC News, the incident happened on Garrison Boulevard at Yates Street around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 19, when a dark colored 2021 Mazda CX-9 SUV struck the two pedestrians.
Following the crash, a weeklong review of video footage and data from the Real Time Crime Center by investigators led to the located suspect's vehicle hidden at a residence, around a half-mile from the crash site on October 24. Arrest records revealed that English was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force at her residence in Gastonia, with WCNC reporting she is being held on a $500,000 bond for felony hit-and-run resulting in injury or death and failure to maintain lane control.
The Gastonia Police Department gained significant assistance from the public, which responded to a widely viewed video on social media. The video related to the case was viewed more than 755,000 times, and this collaboration resulted in multiple tips that aided the investigation. WBTV included an interview with Natalie Lang, Cochran's girlfriend, who described the moment of the accident: "It was like a bomb going off beside me; the sound of the collision was deafening." Lang also alleged that Cochran was riding his bicycle in the center turn lane when he was struck from behind by a vehicle that did not have its headlights on.
The investigation by Gastonia Police remains active and ongoing, as they continue to sort through evidence and build their case. The department has encouraged anyone with additional information related to the incident to come forward and contact Officer Koeppel or submit information through Crime Stoppers of Gaston County.
