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WEST YARMOUTH, MA (AP) — Carrying candles and wiping away tears, hundreds of mourners joined Yarmouth police at an emotional vigil Saturday night for an officer who was killed while on duty.
The ceremony honored 32-year-old Sean Gannon, who was shot in the head and killed Thursday while carrying out an arrest warrant. People placed flags, flowers, balloons and a box of dog biscuits next to a parked police cruiser.
Gannon's police dog, Nero, also was shot and is recovering from surgery.
Yarmouth Chief Frank Frederickson said the eight-year veteran was a "wonderful young man" who was like a son to him. He said Gannon had a promising career ahead of him.
Frederickson said the attack "stunned us and brought us to our knees," in a Facebook post Saturday. He is asking for donations for Gannon's family. Another GoFundMe fundraiser for the family describes Gannon as "funny" and "universally liked."
Gannon was the department's first full-time drug detection K-9 patrol officer. He started his career working at Stonehill College in 2006.
The Yarmouth Police Department described the man charged as a "career criminal" with over 100 previous criminal charges in Massachusetts.
Prosecutors said 29-year-old Thomas Latanowich, of Somerville, was charged in Barnstable District Court on Friday. He is being held without bail after pleading not guilty.
Latanowich was indicted by a Barnstable County grand jury in 2010 on gun, assault and drug trafficking charges. In 2016, he was arrested for allegedly strangling a pregnant woman. The case was dismissed after the alleged victim asserted her Fifth Amendment privilege.
It could not immediately be determined if he has an attorney. Latanowich's next hearing will be in June.
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