Tennessee: Manhunt underway - man suspected of fatally shooting sheriff’s deputy/injuring another

Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN | 2/9/2024, 11:57 a.m.
A search is underway in east Tennessee for a man suspected of shooting and killing a sheriff’s deputy and injuring …
The Blount County Sheriff's Office is looking for Kenneth Dehart, who is a suspect in a fatal officer-involved shooting, officials said. Mandatory Credit: Blount County Sheriff's Office

A search is underway in east Tennessee for a man suspected of shooting and killing a sheriff’s deputy and injuring another during a traffic stop on Thursday, authorities said.

The suspect, 42-year-old Kenneth Dehart, is wanted on warrants for first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the Blount County Sheriff’s Office.

The officer killed was Deputy Greg McCowan, according to Sheriff James Lee Berrong. A second officer, Deputy Shelby Eggers, was injured after returning fire. She was treated at a hospital and released, the sheriff’s office said Friday.

Blount County, home to the city of Maryville, is about 30 miles west of Gatlinburg.

A reward of more than $60,000 is now being offered for information leading to Dehart’s capture, Berrong said Friday. The sheriff’s department originally announced varying amounts of reward money.

Dehart is believed to be traveling on foot and should be considered “armed and dangerous,” the sheriff’s office said. People were advised to not approach the suspect and should instead contact law enforcement.

His last known location was in the county’s Wildwood area, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office has not provided details on what led to the initial encounter between the deputies and the suspect.

The sheriff said the shooting happened after a traffic stop, and the deputy who was shot in the leg “returned fire.” It’s unclear if the suspect was also wounded.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is assisting in the search and has issued a statewide blue alert for Dehart.

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