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SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — Relatives of a man accused of killing a police officer on Aug. 5 had warned law enforcement that he was armed and had threatened to kill, a Shreveport police sergeant testified Thursday.
Sgt. Shawn Hinderberger was the first witness in a preliminary hearing Thursday to decide whether there is enough evidence to hold Grover Cannon, 27, on a charge of first-degree murder of a police officer — meaning conviction could bring a death sentence.
Hinderberger testified that relatives had a neighbor call 911 hours earlier, saying Cannon was rapping about shooting relatives in the head and said he'd shoot police in the face, news media reported.
When Officer Thomas LaValley arrived, a woman and her daughter told him that Cannon was armed and had been threatening to kill them, he said.
Hinderberger said the home's door was open, and LaValley did not announce his presence as he entered, but audio recordings from LaValley's shoulder recorder and police car reveal that he repeated "Show me your hands," followed by the sound of gunfire.
Fifteen shots were fired and LaValley was hit six times, twice in the head at close range, Hindenberger testified.
He said LaValley was shot several times by his own .40-caliber Glock 22 pistol, from 1 to 2 feet away. Police found 14 .40-caliber casings and one from a 9mm pistol in the house, and two unfired .40-calliber bullets in Cannon's pocket when he was arrested, he testified.
Police have not found LaValley's gun, and are offering a reward for information leading to it.
Hinderberger said officers who arrested Cannon also recovered a 9mm pistol with three bullets missing from the magazine.
That pistol is believed to be the one he's accused of using in a July shooting for which an attempted murder warrant had been sworn against him, according to testimony
Cannon has been booked on the murder charge; only the district attorney's office can bring a formal charge against him.
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