Neighbors' altercation ends with one shot and killed

One man is dead and the neighbor that did the shooting is not facing charges – at least for now.

It happened around 6 p.m. in Apollo Beach, and authorities tell us it could possibly involve a Stand Your Ground argument.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, David Cockerham, 67, was out walking his dog along Silver Falls Drive when neighbor John Gallik, 52, confronted him.

"Some kind of altercation broke loose and resulted in one man being shot and killed," said Hillsborough Sheriff's spokesman Larry McKinnon.

Detectives say the dog was startled and knocked over a sign blocking the sidewalk, and then Gallik got angry, yelling profanities, charging Cockerham and pulling out a knife. According to detectives, Cockerham took a step backward to create a distance between the two.

However, Gallik attacked him and threatened to cut his throat, detectives say. When Gallik charged him, detectives say Cockerham opened fire with a .38 caliber revolver that was in his pocket. Detectives say Gallik was shot once and died at the scene.

Cockerham immediately called 911 to alert them of the altercation, detectives say. He has not been charged with a crime as the investigation continues.

"So there's a lot of components in the investigation, and once those all come together a determination will be made whether this was a Stand Your Ground self-defense, or in fact someone ends up getting charged with some level of homicide," McKinnon said.

Neighbors tell us Gallik has had problems with many people in the past, and they say his house was in disrepair and his home in foreclosure.

The case is heading to the state attorney's office.