Man accused of wounding cop is fatally shot by Tempe police

PHOENIX (KPHO/KTVK/Gray News) - A man suspected of shooting and wounding an off-duty Scottsdale police officer has died from his injuries after being shot in Tempe, authorities said Sunday.

Tempe police said 37-year-old Kenneth Hearne died at hospital.

Police were searching for him after he allegedly shot a police sergeant in Phoenix Friday night, KPHO reports.

Police warned that Hearne was “armed and dangerous” and wanted for a number of charges.

Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walther says authorities were serving a warrant when the shooting occurred.

Authorities went inside the apartment and found a woman and a child. The woman and child were taken out of the apartment when authorities say Hearne was standing down the hallway, ran to another room and began shooting at them.

The police sergeant is in the hospital and is expected to recover.

“We ask that you ask yourself the question of when did it become OK and recognize that it’s never going to be OK,” Walthers said of the incident.

Copyright 2023 KPHO/KTVK via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.