Man found guilty in shooting death of Yarmouth police Sgt. Sean Gannon

BARNSTABLE, Mass. (WLNE) – A man was found guilty of second-degree murder in the 2018 shooting death of a Cape Cod police sergeant.

The jury began deliberating Tuesday after hearing closing arguments.

Thomas Latanowich was charged in connection with the shooting death of Yarmouth police Sgt. Sean Gannon.

Gannon is a native of New Bedford.

Latanowich was found guilty of second-degree murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, firearm possession without a license and mistreating a police dog.

Latanowich pleaded not guilty, and waived his right to a jury trial, opting instead to have Judge Jeffrey Locke decide.

Gannon, 32, the department’s K9 officer, was killed on April 12, 2018, while he and other officers were serving an arrest warrant for a possible probation violation at a Barnstable home.

Gannon’s dog, Nero, was also shot, but survived.

The jury had a choice of either first- or second-degree murder and chose second-degree.

“While we are disappointed in the verdict, the fact remains that our Sean is dead,” the Gannon family said in statement released after the verdict was read. “We are completely grateful and extend our heartfelt thanks to the many members of our communities that have reached out to our family in myriad ways throughout these past three years. Their support has been the steel in our spine: you will never be forgotten.”

Latanowich’s attorney stated his client did not know Gannon was a police officer when he shot him. He said Latanowich thought it was someone else who he was fighting with.