Jury Selection Begins In Trial Of Thomas Latanowich, Charged With Killing Yarmouth Police Sgt. Sean Gannon

BARNSTABLE (CBS) – Jury selection began Monday in the murder trial of Thomas Latanowich, the man charged with killing Yarmouth Police Sgt. Sean Gannon in 2018.

Gannon was shot and killed while he and other officers were serving an arrest warrant at a home in Marstons Mills on April 12, 2018. Gannon's K-9 partner Nero was also shot, but survived. Latanowich was wanted for violating his probation and was holed up in the attic of the house when investigators say he shot Gannon and Nero.

Gannon was just 32 years old.

Latanowich's attorney, Joseph Krowski, asked the judge to move the trial off the Cape because of extensive media coverage of the case, but that request was denied in January. They are expected to argue Latanowich was acting in self-defense. He's pleaded not guilty to murder and seven other charges.

The trial is being held in Barnstable Superior Court.

On Monday morning, more than 50 prospective jurors filed into the courtroom to listen to the charges against Latanowich. When asked if they had ever seen, heard, or read about the case, the prospective jurors gave a nearly unanimous yes.

Citing that response, the defense asked the judge to reconsider a motion for a change of venue but it was declined.

"We have jurors lined up for the next five days and hopefully we're able to get 16 jurors out of that pool," the judge said.

According to a timeline laid out by the judge, it could take all of August to present evidence to a jury.