DETAILS REVEAL DEADLY DISCOVERY

Detailed information about the moments leading up to the shooting death of Yarmouth K-9 Sgt. Sean Gannon and the surrender of his alleged shooter Thomas Latanowich were released yesterday by Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe’s office.

Gannon, who was posthumously promoted to sergeant following his death nearly a month ago, made two visits into the cramped attic space where his accused killer was hiding, according to the new information.

Gannon, another officer and K-9 Nero entered the attic through a small opening in a bedroom closet, O’Keefe said. During the first sweep of the space, they located two backpacks in the attic — one containing “a large amount” of drugs and the other clothing, O’Keefe said. No person was found during the first search.

The officers returned to the attic to sweep again — this time Gannon, two other officers and K-9 Nero. During this sweep, the officers noticed a piece of insulation covering another attic space created by an addition to the house, O’Keefe said.

Immediately upon removing the insulation, Gannon was shot, O’Keefe said.

Gannon’s body was pulled down through the opening of the closet ceiling by his fellow officers, O’Keefe said.

Gannon was transported to Cape Cod Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be a single gunshot to the head.

In addition to the clothes and drugs, O’Keefe said police recovered more than $25,000 in cash from a stash hole in a bedroom wall, and more than $4,000 from Latanowich when he was booked. During a search of the property over the next several days, police found a semi-automatic handgun broken down into pieces and hidden around the house, two live rounds in a toilet and shell casings in the attic, O’Keefe said.

Police said Latanowich shot Gannon while he and other officers were serving an arrest warrant for a possible probation violation.

Latanowich has been charged with murder and mistreating a police dog.

Not guilty pleas were entered on his behalf during his arraignment last month. He’s being held without bail.

Latanowich’s next court date is scheduled for June 26.

Staff file photo, above, by chris christo; photo courtesy of yarMouth police DepartMent A DOUBLE SWEEP: A report details the moments before Yarmouth K-9 Sgt. Sean Gannon, below right, was fatally shot at a home, above. Thomas Latanowich, below left, was charged in the murder and mistreating a police dog.