ba082021 Latanowich verdict from Cape Wide News LLC on Vimeo.
BARNSTABLE – A jury in Barnstable Superior Court on Thursday found Thomas Lantanowich Guilty of second degree murder and guilty of all seven charges he faced in the killing of Yarmouth Police Sgt. Sean Gannon more than three years ago while Gannon was serving a warrant at a home in Marstons Mills. The verdict came down on Friday after 4 days of deliberations following a trial that featured testimony from officers who were with Gannon when he was fatally shot in the head and testimony from the defendant himself.
Latanowich, during his direct testimony, claimed he fired the fatal shots because he feared for his life while hiding in the attic of home. Gannon was attempting to enter the attic when he was shot. His K-9 Nero was also shot and seriously injured but survived.
Shortly after they began deliberations, the jury asked for clarification on whether they needed to find that Latanowich intended to shoot and kill Gannon, or just intended to shoot and kill anyone.
The judge returned instructions saying the jury only had to find that the defendant intended to shoot and kill someone, not specifically Gannon.
During testimony on Monday, the defendant said he was in fear, claiming he was the target of a drive-by shooting several days earlier on the Lower Cape.
Gannon and other officers from Yarmouth and Barnstable were at the home on April 12, 2018, to serve a probation warrant on Latanowich. When officers entered the first floor at 109 Blueberry Lane, they cleared the area and then noticed a hatch in a bedroom leading up to the attic. Prosecutors said Gannon and Nero were shot by Latanowich when they attempted to enter the attic area.
The jury also heard from officers who testified that Gannon clearly announced that Yarmouth Police and a K-9 unit were in the house and told anyone inside to surrender or risk being bitten by Nero.
In other evidence presented, jurors were read text messages Latanowich was sending to friends and family while holed up on the attic after the shooting, including one that indicated he was going to shoot it out and take as many people as he could with him.
After several emotional victim witness statements from Gannon family members, Judge Jeffrey Locke sentenced Latanowich to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 25 years.
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Audio-victim impact statements:
Cape and Island’s District Attorney’s statement: Cape & Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe announced today that a Barnstable Superior Court Jury found Thomas Latanowich (DOB 7-14-88) guilty of Murder in the Second Degree in connection with the killing of Yarmouth police officer Sergeant Sean Gannon. The jury deliberated for three days before returning a verdict Friday morning.
The jury also found the defendant guilty of all additional indictments submitted to them. The jury’s findings triggered a further indictment which could not be given to this jury until after their findings. That indictment alleged that based on the jury’s findings in the trial, the defendant was an armed career criminal.
Latanowich waived his right to have this jury hear the evidence in that case and instead plead guilty before Judge Locke. Judge Locke found Latanowich guilty and imposed the following sentences:
1. Murder G.L.c.265 §1 : life with parole eligibility at 25 years on and after the sentences below which run concurrent with each other
2. Aggravated A& B with a Dangerous Weapon G.L. c.265 §15A (c) (i) : merged into the Murder charge
3. Assault and Battery Dangerous Weapon G.L.c.265 §15A (b) : merged into the Murder charge
4. Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony G.L.c.265 §18B : 10 -15 years state prison
5. Possession of Ammunition without an FID card G.L.c.269 §10 (h) : 18 months House of Correction
6. Mistreating a Police Dog G.L.c.272 §77A : 2 ½ years House of Correction
7. Armed Career Criminal G.L.c.269 §10G (c) : 10 – 15 years state prison
These sentences aggregate to a parole eligibility of a minimum of 35 years.
Cape & Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe remarked, “Though we would have preferred a Murder 1 verdict, this verdict was consistent with what conscientious jurors could have found. I want to congratulate the trial team of First Assistant District Attorney Mike Trudeau and Assistant District Attorney Dan Higgins and the police investigators who supported them for all the work they put into this case. No one can understand the depth of the pain and anguish felt by the family over these years. Dara and Sean’s Mom and Dad and their extended family have conducted themselves with dignity and patience throughout this entire process and I thank them.”
First Assistant District Attorney Michael Trudeau said, “This has been a very difficult and emotional case and I thank the Judge and Jury for the time they spent on it. It is my hope that these verdicts give the Gannon family some sense that justice was served and provides some measure of closure for them moving forward.”
The matter was investigated by Barnstable Police, Yarmouth Police and State Police detectives assigned to the Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office.
Yarmouth Police statement: We are greatly relieved to have the Trial of Sean Gannon’s murderer completed. Reaching a guilty verdict only ends one chapter in this tragedy. The Gannon family will have to continue on without Sean and will experience the heartbreak forever.
Sean’s brother and sister officers of the Yarmouth Police Department can now feel that there has been justice after waiting three anxious and long years. I am proud to say, that despite the loss of Sean, they come to serve our community with the utmost professionalism.
I would like to thank First Assistant District Attorney Michael Trudeau and Assistant District Attorney Dan Higgins for their exemplary in bringing this case to a successful conclusion. Many thanks go to the Barnstable Police, State Police Investigators, members of the Cape Cod Regional Law Enforcement Council SWAT and Superintendent Barney Murphy of the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office for their contributions throughout the warrant execution, investigation and prosecution.
From the moment we lost Sean, our community has shown their support to the Gannon’s and members of the Yarmouth Police Department. This genuine support spread across Cape Cod and beyond. I offer my heartfelt thanks to all who have and continue to show support.
For those who were with Sean when he was killed, I commend your courage and am sorry that you had to relive your actions on that fateful day. You are great people and exemplify the best in policing. You endured more than anyone should.
Since Sean’s death, more details of his powerful and positive impact on others still continue to surface. It is quite evident that the world would be a better place if we could all be like Sean. So let’s remember what a wonderful person and exceptional and role model Sean was.
Respectfully,
Chief Frank G. Frederickson
