Thomas Latanowich Claims Killing Of Yarmouth Police Sgt. Sean Gannon Was Self-Defense As Murder Trial Begins

BARNSTABLE (CBS) – Opening statements were presented Friday morning 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.

"Officer Gannon reached up to pull that piece of insulation down and as soon as that insulation was pulled down they heard a pop and observed Officer Gannon fall face-first onto the insulation in the attic. At that point, you will hear that they realize that Officer Gannon had been shot," prosecutor Michael Trudeau told the jury Friday.

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.

During opening statements, the defense said Latanowich acted in self-defense. Krowski said his client was in fear for his life because of someone else and he did not know that Gannon was not the person he feared.

"You won't hear any evidence from any witness called by the prosecution that in the weeks and days leading up to April 12 that he professed any desire to shoot or kill a police officer, that he planned or demonstrated any type or intent to harm a police officer. The only information you'll hear is that he was in fear that someone was trying to kill him," Krowski said.

Latanowich has pleaded not guilty to murder and seven other charges.

Krowski attempted to paint a picture of incompetent police throughout the whole investigation, beginning with the search warrant. "There was no chain of command, there was no written plan, and there was no intelligence gathering. They had no information or idea what the state of mind on that day of Thomas Latanowich was, they had no information or idea what house he was staying at," he said.

The trial is being held in Barnstable Superior Court. According to a timeline laid out by the judge, it could take all of August to present evidence to the jury.

A Barnstable police officer was the first witness to be called to the stand Friday afternoon.