Man who reportedly shot Scottsdale sergeant in downtown Phoenix dead

Sources tell Arizona’s Family that the suspect, 37-year-old Kenneth Hearne, was a gang member in Sacramento with a long criminal history.
Published: Jan. 8, 2023 at 9:35 AM MST|Updated: Jan. 8, 2023 at 12:18 PM MST
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TEMPE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — Tempe police confirmed Sunday morning that Kenneth Hearne, the man who allegedly shot a Scottsdale police sergeant Friday night in downtown Phoenix, died in the hospital.

Scottsdale police announced Monday afternoon that the sergeant shot was Sgt. Scott Galbraith, a supervisor with the Special Assignment Unit. Sgt. Galbraith works with suspect arrests and warrant services related to Scottsdale cases and has served for 19 years. He has been released from the hospital. “I just want to say first and foremost prayers to his family, and I can’t even imagine what they’re going through,” said Maddie Kuchar, who lives where the shooting happened.

Hearne’s death comes after his arrest around 5:15 p.m. on Saturday when Tempe police found the 37-year-old suspect near Lakeshore Drive and Baseline Road. Phoenix Police Sgt. Philip Krynksy said a special assignment unit was following up on some leads when they spotted Hearne. He reportedly pulled out a gun, and officers shot at him. Police arrested Hearne and took him to a hospital. No officers were hurt in that shooting.

Police say Hearne had been on the run, then considered armed and dangerous by officials after shooting a Scottsdale sergeant serving a warrant inside Union at Roosevelt, near 1st Avenue and Roosevelt Street. Sources tell Arizona’s Family that Hearne was a gang member in Sacramento with a long criminal history. However, it is still unclear what Hearne was accused of when Scottsdale police officers tried serving him a warrant on Friday night. A spokesperson for the department said they are not releasing that information right now.