In the quiet Queensborough neighborhood of Shreveport, Louisiana, a sequence of events unfolded on the evening of August 5, 2015, that would tragically end the life of 29-year-old Shreveport Police Officer Thomas Joseph LaValley. A four-year veteran of the force, LaValley was responding to a call about a suspicious person at a residence. Unbeknownst to him, the man inside was not only the subject of the call but was also wanted in connection with another recent shooting.
Upon his arrival
at the home, Officer LaValley was informed by neighbors that the individual inside was wanted. Without hesitation, he entered the residence to confront the man. It was then that the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Grover Cannon, opened fire, striking Officer LaValley multiple times. The officer was rushed to a nearby hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal. Cannon fled the scene, sparking an intense manhunt that would last for nearly a day.
Following an extensive search, law enforcement, acting on a tip, located and apprehended Grover Cannon without incident. He was discovered in a detached garage, seemingly calm and 'just hanging out.' Cannon was subsequently charged with first-degree murder in the death of Officer LaValley. His trial faced delays due to issues with jury selection, which was eventually moved to another parish. In November 2019, a jury found Grover Cannon guilty of the murder of Officer Thomas LaValley. He was sentenced to life in prison for his crime.
Thomas Joseph LaValley, who was born in Baton Rouge, had been a dedicated public servant. Before joining the Shreveport Police Department, where he graduated at the top of his academy class, he worked as a videographer for a local news station. He was remembered as a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, a man who was passionate about his work and dedicated to protecting his community.
