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Man accused of killing Yarmouth Police officer testifies in murder trial Monday

BARNSTABLE, Mass. — Thomas Latanowich testified in his own murder trial for the first time Monday. He’s accused of shooting and killing Yarmouth K9 Officer Sean Gannon in April of 2018.

“Were you intending to kill a police officer?” the defense attorney asked Latanowich as he took the stand.

“Absolutely not,” he replied.

Latanowich said he didn’t realize he shot at an officer that day. He said he was hiding under insulation in the attic of a home in Barnstable and thought the person who entered the house was someone he had a previous dispute with.

Latanowich admitted to firing his gun, but he said he didn’t know who he shot at.

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“The gun went off twice?” prosecutors questioned Latanowich Monday.

“It did,” Latanowich replied. “And one shot hit Officer Gannon in the forehead?”

“I believe so,” Latanowich said.

Shortly after he fired two shots, Latanowich said he found K9 Nero injured, and then he noticed the officer surrounded by a lot of blood. Police were trying to arrest Latanowich on a warrant that day. Prosecutors went through evidence of text messages he sent right after the shooting.

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“There’s another text you sent: ‘I already shot him, it’s too late,” prosecutors said. “You certainly knew you shot a police officer then, didn’t you?”

“Again, I assumed. It was at that point after I possibly heard [Officer] Van Ness [say] ‘officer down’ and nothing was concrete,” Latanowich said.

The defense rested its case Monday and closing arguments will begin Tuesday. Then the jury will begin its deliberations on whether Latanowich is guilty of first-degree murder for killing Officer Gannon.

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