Peabody man dies from cop shooting

PEABODY – The 55-year-old Peabody resident shot by police after he confronted officers with a weapon during a domestic dispute Wednesday died Friday morning at Salem Hospital.According to a medical examiner, Phillip Noto Sr. was pronounced dead at 7:31 a.m. as the result of complications of a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.Noto had been in the care of doctors at Salem Hospital since Peabody patrolman Richard Cochran shot him once in the abdomen after Noto allegedly pulled out a weapon inside his Washington Street home on Monday.Noto’s weapon and the firearm Cochran used are both undergoing ballistics testing at the state police laboratory, according to the Essex District Attorney’s Office.Neither police or the District Attorney’s Office released details on the type of weapon Noto displayed, but police believed it to be a type of pistol.Cochran, 45, who has been with the department for 12 years, entered Noto’s home on Monday with fellow patrolman Steve Molk, 57, shortly after Noto’s wife, Ellen, called 911 around noontime.Noto had just been released from Peabody District Court a few hours earlier, where he pleaded innocent to a charge of threatening to commit bodily harm, stemming from an incident on Sunday evening at his home. A judge had also extended a restraining order obtained by Noto’s wife.After his arraignment, Noto posted $750 bail and returned to his home in violation of the protective order. He then started an argument with his wife, prompting her to call the police.A sergeant and two patrolmen including Cochran responded, and Noto was shot during the armed confrontation.Noto was scheduled to be arraigned in Peabody District Court on Tuesday, but underwent emergency surgery following the shooting and remained in critical condition. It was determined at the time that he was not “able to meaningfully participate” in a bedside arraignment.Peabody Police Chief Robert Champagne said the incident is a tragedy for everyone involved.”We offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Noto’s family,” he said.An investigation into the incident is being conducted by State Police assigned to Essex District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett’s office.