Kansas officer killed in domestic violence standoff remembered as community hero

The city of Hays, Kansas, is in mourning after Police Sgt. Scott Heimann, 32, was killed in the line of duty while responding to a domestic violence call that turned deadly over the weekend.

Just before midnight on Saturday, police were called to the 2000 block of East 21st Street, where a woman reported she had fled a violent altercation with her significant other, 34-year-old Zane Wickham. She told officers Wickham rammed his truck into her vehicle as she tried to escape before she ran to a nearby home for help.

Gone too soon, never forgotten: Sgt. Scott Heimann. (City of Hays)

By the early hours of Sunday morning, officers and a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper set up a perimeter near the backyard of Wickham’s residence in the 2200 block of Downing Avenue. At around 1:55 a.m., a single gunshot rang out from inside the residence.

That bullet struck Sgt. Heimann. Despite immediate aid from fellow officers and first responders, he later died at a hospital in Hutchinson. Hours later, at about 6:15 a.m., tactical teams entered the house and found Wickham dead from what is believed to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

A life of service

Sgt. Heimann had been with the Hays Police Department since 2016, where colleagues said he was known for his dedication and steady leadership.

“Today, we are tragically reminded that police officers serve and protect their communities, putting the lives of others above their own,” Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said in a statement. “Sgt. Scott Heimann gave his life in this service, exemplifying dedication to the community and safety of others.”

Remembering Sgt. Heimann

Memorial services have been set to honor the fallen officer. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, following a Thursday visitation from 4–8 p.m. at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. A vigil service is also planned for Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m.

As the community prepares to gather, residents of Hays are left grappling with both grief and gratitude, mourning a young life cut short while honoring a man who gave everything to protect others.