Cedric Kearney sentenced to 10-14 years behind bars in 2019 shooting of Raleigh PD officer

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Nearly six years after a shooting almost took the life of a Raleigh police officer, the man who pulled the trigger was sentenced to 10-14 years behind bars on state charges.

Cedric Kearney accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to three charges connected to the January 2019 shooting of former Raleigh police officer Charles Ainsworth.

The Henderson man pleaded guilty to attempted murder of Ainsworth, assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, and larceny of a firearm.

It happened on January 9, 2019 when Ainsworth and another officer responded to a call of a stolen vehicle.

Kearney fired at them and fled as they arrested another suspect.

Ainsworth was hit twice and said in court today a bullet went through his face, ricocheted off his spine, and landed in his shoulder.

Before Kearney learned his fate, Ainsworth took to the stand with a strong message.

"This act of cowardice is going to stick with me for the rest of my life," he said. "I can probably forgive you for what you did to me, but I cannot forgive, what will not forgive, is what you did to my wife and what you did to my family. You almost left her alone in this world."

A sea of police officers filled the courtroom for the hearing. Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce addressed the officers in attendance after the hearing.

"Be safe," he said. "Every day we put this uniform on, and we leave home, we may not return. So don't take what you do for granted. This is really tough for a chief to have to sit here and see an officer go through something like this. But it's encouraging to know that the support is always there and you guys show up each and every time."

While addressing Kearney, Ainsworth said he could have lost more than his life that day.

"I have two children now, two children who were born after this," he said. "If you had been successful, they would have not existed. You just about killed my entire family in one night."

During the hearing Friday, Kearney's attorney said he has undergone treatment for schizophrenia since his arrest.

He was already sentenced to 21 years on federal charges.

As part of his sentence in North Carolina, he was also ordered to continue receiving mental health treatment.