Arrest Made In Connection To Special Olympics Athlete's Death

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Scottsdale police arrested a man Friday who they said was connected to the Sunday morning shooting death of Scott Harkness.

Harkness, 59, was found laying on the side of the street at 7900 E. Camelback Road around 1:10 a.m. on Sunday.

John Merryman, 38, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder early Friday morning by Scottsdale detectives and the Scottsdale Police SWAT Team, police said.

Scottsdale police found a gun near the crime scene that they said was linked through forensic evidence to both Harkness's death and to Merryman.

Harkness was active in the local community of developmentally disabled people, as a member of the Bobcats Scottsdale Special Olympics Team and Scottsdale's Adaptive Recreation Program.

Police believe that Harkness was shot while walking home early Sunday morning from Zipps Sports Grill, where friends said he was a regular.