A Florida man could spend decades behind bars after a jury convicted him of gunning down his estranged wife’s fiance right outside the victim’s own home.
Brian Canarelli, 46, was found guilty Friday by a Palm Beach County jury on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the June 2021 death of 37-year-old James “Cole” Berger. Jurors declined to convict on the more serious first-degree murder count. Because the case involved a firearm, Canarelli now faces a sentencing enhancement that carries mandatory minimum prison time under Florida law. The trial got underway on Sept. 22.
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The shooting happened in the early hours of June 23, 2021, in front of a house on 98th Trail North in Jupiter, a coastal city roughly 85 miles north of Miami.
Sheriff’s deputies responding to the scene around 2:35 a.m. found Berger with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead where he fell.
According to an arrest report cited by The Palm Beach Post and WPBF, Canarelli’s estranged wife had called him to come pick up their son that night. Berger apparently wasn’t pleased to see his fiancee’s ex show up, and a confrontation broke out between the two men.
Things escalated fast. At one point Berger hopped over a gate as the woman was in the process of opening it so their son could reach his father on the other side.
Berger’s fiancee later told investigators she heard a gunshot right after he cleared the gate, and that Canarelli told her he’d shot Berger while she was performing CPR on him — though she said she never actually saw a weapon.
Berger’s mother, who was also present, gave investigators a darker account. She said Canarelli reached behind his back, fired a shot that hit her son, then walked over to where he lay wounded and fired four more rounds into him.
“He had his whole life ahead of him but was robbed of it so malevolently,” reads Berger’s obituary, which goes on to describe him warmly: “For the many that knew him, or even knew of him, Cole lived a life rooted in Love. His presence always lifted the vibe in the room. He had a special way of making everyone feel welcome and comfortable and always greeted his friends with big warm hugs. He was a gentle giant. A kind quiet man who liked the simple things and expressed to everyone how little he wanted or needed out of life because he had it all.”
Investigators located Canarelli’s Porsche Cayenne parked just south of the home, according to charging documents, with a pistol visible on the driver’s side floorboard. Six spent 9 mm shell casings were recovered at the scene.
Circuit Judge John Parnofiello agreed to push back sentencing so a presentencing investigation could be completed, granting a request from the defense. A new sentencing date has not yet been set.
