FOREST GROVE, OR (KPTV) -
Investigators said an off-duty officer was armed with an AR-15 rifle and told other officers arriving at his home for a domestic disturbance call he was going to kill them.
Forest Grove police released new details in the case of Timothy Cannon Tuesday.
Officers were dispatched to his home on the 1000 block of 37th Avenue at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 20. A woman, later identified as Cannon's wife, said she was locked in an upstairs bathroom with her daughter and Cannon was trying to get inside.
The woman told dispatchers Cannon had been physical with her and he was armed with a weapon.
Officers learned Cannon was an off-duty Hillsboro police officer and had access to weapons. Fearing the victims were in imminent danger, officers immediately made entry into the home to attempt to stop the suspect's actions.
Police said all lights were off inside the home. When the first-arriving officers tried to start a dialogue with Cannon, he responded he was armed and they would have to kill them.
Officers said they then heard Cannon loading ammunition into his gun and he stated he would kill them.
Gunfire was then exchanged between Cannon and the officers.
Attempts to resolve the situation peacefully failed and more shots were fired. Investigators said Cannon established a clear tactical advantage by not only knowing the layout of his home, but also by concealing himself and constantly changing his position of high ground in an upstairs stairwell.
Police said he was in areas blocking the only available path of escape or rescue for his wife and daughter.
Cannon was eventually taken into custody following a struggle after he walked downstairs unarmed.
He was arraigned in court on charges of attempted aggravated murder, unlawful use of a weapon, animal abuse, assault and misdemeanor harassment.
Court documents show Cannon is charged with animal abuse for allegedly killing a cat.
He pleaded not guilty and is set to face trial on March 19.
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