The suspect in the alleged murder of retired St. Louis Police Department Captain David Dorn was previously convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison, according to court documents.
Stephan Cannon, 24, was identified after an investigation, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner said. Detectives obtained surveillance footage showing Cannon on the scene, she said.
Court records show Cannon was previously charged with felony robbery in 2014 and was sentenced to 7 years in prison, but the judge gave him a break and he never served a day, FOX2 reported.
The judge suspended the execution of his sentence (SES) and he was put on probation, the outlet reported. Records show Cannon later violated his probation and the court gave him another break, never serving his sentence.
Cannon was charged earlier this week with robbery, burglary, armed criminal action, and felony possession of a firearm in addition to the murder of Dorn, 77, who was gunned down while trying to protect his friend’s pawn shop from looters on June 2. He is being held without bond.
Dorn spent 38 years with the police department, according to a report by news outlet KMOV. St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden said Dorn was murdered while “exercising law enforcement.”
“He was murdered by looters at a pawn shop. He was the type of brother that would’ve given his life to save them if he had to. Violence is not the answer, whether it’s a citizen or officer,” The Ethical Society of Police of St. Louis said.
“David Dorn was a fine captain, many of us young officers looked up to him,” Hayden said.
The looting occurred amid violent protests, riots, vandalism, and arson in the city in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody last week. Floyd died after an officer was recorded holding a knee on his neck during an arrest.
Cannon admitted to being inside the pawn shop on the night of the murder and cutting his hair to try to alter his appearance. He was aware that his photograph was being circulated by law enforcement officials.
St. Louis Police Department officials said a second man was arrested in the same case.
Jimmie Robinson was charged with first-degree burglary, armed criminal action, and stealing. His bond was set at $30,000.
Police released surveillance footage on June 5 showing seven men entering the store beneath a security gate. At least two of them were armed. All seven were deemed persons of interest.
Dorn’s son sent a message to his father’s killer, saying, “The person who pulled the trigger, my message to them would just simply be, just step back from what you’re doing. Know the real reason that you are protesting. Let’s do it in a positive manner.”
Dorn’s widow, St. Louis police Sgt. Ann Marie Dorn, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that Dorn was a friend of the shop’s owner, and often responded when the shop’s alarms went off.
Zachary Stieber contributed to this report
