'I Killed A Cop': Somerville Man's Statements Allowed In Court

YARMOUTH, MA — Statements made in the immediate aftermath of the fatal shooting of Yarmouth police Officer Sean Gannon by his accused killer will be allowed in court, a Barnstable Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday.

Attorneys for Thomas Latanowich, 32, argued that his statements, including a frantic phone call to his ex-girlfriend and mother of his daughter, were involuntary due to his emotional state.

Latanowich left a voicemail for his former girlfriend, saying, "I just had to call. I love you. I love you. I killed a cop," The Boston Globe reported. The ex-girlfriend communicated with Latanowich several times over the phone as she drove to the scene of the shooting in Marstons Mills.

Judge Kathe M. Tuttman ruled Latanowich was not "so overwrought as to be incapable of rational thought" and that his statements to his ex-girlfriend, as well as responding officers, are admissible in court, The Globe reported.

Latanowich, a Somerville resident at the time of the killing, is accused of shooting Gannon and his K-9, Nero, in the attic of a Marstons Mills home on April 12, 2018. Gannon was among a group of officers who raided the home to arrest Latanowich on a probation violation.

Investigators believe Latanowich was hiding behind insulation in the attic and shot Gannon and Nero after Gannon removed it. Latanowich then disassembled the gun and threw bullets in the toilet as officers closed in on him, police said.

Latanowich ultimately surrendered to police. Gannon, who was shot in the head, was pronounced dead at the hospital. Nero recovered from his injuries.

Police described Latanowich as a career criminal with over 100 charges on his record. He has pleaded not guilty to murder and weapons charges in Gannon's killing.