Man accused of shooting police sergeant dies after second shooting in Tempe
PHOENIX — A man accused of shooting a Scottsdale police sergeant in downtown Phoenix died after he was involved in a separate officer-involved shooting on Saturday, authorities announced.
Kenneth Hearne, 37, was taken to the hospital following the Tempe shooting where he died from his injuries, the Tempe Police Department said in a press release Sunday.
Hearne was accused of shooting the sergeant just after 7 p.m. at an apartment complex near First Avenue and Roosevelt Street while the Scottsdale Police Department was serving a search warrant, authorities said.
The sergeant was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walther told reporters Friday night. Scottsdale police on Saturday afternoon said that the sergeant is doing extremely well and expected to make a full recovery.
Hearne was taken into custody in the area of Baseline Road and Lakeshore Drive and was transported to a hospital, the Phoenix Police Department tweeted before 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The suspect began shooting at detectives through a wall in the apartment unit after a female and child were removed from the residence, Scottsdale police said.
The sergeant was struck in the lower abdomen and a fellow detective returned fire, but Hearne allegedly leaped off a second-floor balcony and fled the scene, Walther said.
Hearne was considered armed and dangerous, authorities said.
Phoenix Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari warned people around 8 p.m. to stay clear of Roosevelt Row and surrounding neighborhoods on Friday night, as the incident occurred during First Friday, a busy event in the area.
Valley Metro trains temporarily bypassed the Roosevelt Street/Central Avenue station, but normal light rail service resumed around 9:30 p.m.