A suspect wanted in the shooting death of a Shreveport police officer was taken into custody after a round-the-clock manhunt, Louisiana State Police said Thursday.
Major Doug Cain of the Louisiana State Police identified the suspect as Grover Deandre Cannon and said he was wanted not only in the fatal shooting of Officer Thomas LaValley on Wednesday but also in connection with another shooting in July.
The capture was the result of efforts by the FBI, the Shreveport Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana State Police. The FBI offered a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to Cannon’s arrest.
LaValley, 29, was shot multiple times while answering a call about a suspicious person at a home in the city’s Queensborough neighborhood.
Shreveport Police Chief Willie Shaw said neighbors told the officer that the man inside the home was wanted. Shaw says the officer didn’t know the man was armed, and he went inside and was shot.
Police already had a warrant for Cannon’s arrest on a charge of attempted second-degree murder.
A four-year veteran of the force, LaValley began working as a lawman after more than three years as a television news photographer. Shaw described LaValley as “one of our top young people” and a hero who will never be forgotten.
“He was doing what he loved,” Shaw said. “He did not hesitate to confront a bad person.”
Shaw said LaValley came to his office while working at the television station and said he’d applied for a job but had not been hired.
“I told him to apply again, and if he qualified, he would be hired.”
LaValley didn’t believe him, Shaw said, but he assured LaValley that he would be hired if he met the requirements.
The mayor of Shreveport issued a statement decrying the death.
“Last night, we lost one of our brave, uniformed officers in the line of duty. Our hearts are saddened,” Mayor Ollie Tyler. “We ask for the community’s prayers for this officer’s family and SPD as we grieve the loss of one of our own who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving and protecting the citizens of this city.”
