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.

The sergeant was released from the hospital on Sunday and returned home for continued recovery, the Scottsdale Police Department 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.

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