A Tucson man, Zane James Hammond, has been sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted murder. According to ABC15, the 34-year-old former truck driver attempted to kill his bosses at a Phoenix-based company following his abrupt resignation over a minor dispute in November 2023.
After leaving the company in Tucson, Hammond drove to Phoenix armed with a shotgun. Hammond entered the company's headquarters and fired at the president, who narrowly escaped injury by flipping his desk. "He drove to Phoenix with a shotgun and a mission to kill. That’s not rage, that’s premeditation," Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell stated in an announcement reported by ABC15. Surveillance footage captured the violent scene that unfolded as Hammond then turned the weapon towards the vice president.
The situation took a turn when the company's vice president managed to disarm Hammond, detaining him in a chokehold until Phoenix police took him into custody. The entire ordeal was caught on surveillance cameras, showcasing a struggle that could have turned deadly if not for the quick actions of the office's employees. 12 News reports that the incident took place near Central Avenue and Watkins Street.
Hammond faced the Maricopa County Superior Court on July 31, where he received his 29-year sentence. The case, marked by the clear intent to kill as described by surveillance video from investigators, was resolved without any fatalities thanks to the bravery of the employees who intervened. This story serves as a chilling reminder of workplace confrontations turning almost fatal, as stated by County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, "Thanks to sheer bravery, no one died. Now, he will spend nearly three decades in prison, where he belongs."
