City man charged with attempted murder waives hearing

Tyshawn Pittman, 37, walks out of City of Cortland Court Thursday morning. Pittman is being charged with attempted murder after he shot a woman in the face and neck. (Photo Source: Kevin L. Smith of The Cortland Voice).

A Cortland man who is being charged with attempted murder waived his right to a preliminary and/or felony hearing at city court on Thursday.

Tyshawn Pittman, 37, who shot a woman in the face and neck with a gun last Friday, will now see his case move up to Cortland County Court.

Before the court adjourned, city judge Lawrence Knickerbocker wanted to make sure Pittman understood he no longer had a right to a prelim hearing and that his case will now go to the county.

“Yes I do,” Pittman replied.

Knickerbocker noted Pittman’s case will either enter into superior court information or a grand jury presentation, adding Pittman still has the right to testify.

Janice Stafford, one of Pittman’s defense attorneys, said after the session that Pittman’s first appearance in court county is to be determined.

Last Friday, after Pittman shot the woman once on Main Street in Cortland, his “whereabouts were unknown,” according to a city police report. At about 7 p.m. the same day, Pittman was found hiding on the third floor of an apartment building on Main Street.

The female victim was transported to a trauma center in Syracuse, where it was found her wound was not life-threatening, according to the report.

Pittman was also charged with first-degree assault (a Class-B Felony) and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon (a Class-C Felony). He is currently being held in Cortland County Jail on a $250,000 cash bail, $500,000 secured bond, or $1,000,000 bail bond.