Blount County Sheriff's deputy shot and killed, reward jumps as manhunt continues
A statewide Blue Alert has been issued for a 42-year-old man suspected of shooting two Blount County sheriff's deputies Thursday night, killing one. And in the hours since, about $80,000 in reward money has been offered for information leading to his arrest.
Kenneth Wayne DeHart, of Alcoa, is wanted by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Blount County Sheriff's Office on charges of one count of first degree murder, one count of attempted first degree murder and one count of felon in possession of a weapon.
During a Friday evening press conference, officials announced that DeHart's brother had been arrested as an accessory after the fact and was being held on a $1 million bond, with a court appearance scheduled for Feb. 12. Police were still searching for Kenneth DeHart at that point.
Just before 8:30 p.m. Feb. 8, Deputy Greg McCowan and Deputy Shelby Eggers initiated a traffic stop on an SUV in the 4900 block of Sevierville Road in Maryville, a release from TBI said. The driver, identified as DeHart, would not cooperate and refused to get out of the vehicle. A Taser was deployed with no effect, the release said.
At some point during the encounter, DeHart produced a gun and fired shots, striking both deputies. McCowan was fatally wounded; Eggers was shot in the leg and returned fire, Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong said in an early-morning press conference Feb. 9.
Posted by Blount County Sheriff's Office on Thursday, February 8, 2024
McCowan was transported to an area hospital, where he later died. Eggers was also taken to the hospital, treated and released.
Blount County Sheriff's Deputy Greg McCowan, who was shot and killed earlier this evening during a traffic stop, was escorted from Blount Memorial Hospital to the University of Tennessee Forensics Center in Knoxville early this morning by his fellow brothers and sisters in blue. We stand with Deputy McCowan’s family, friends and colleagues during this absolutely tragic time.
Posted by Knoxville Police Department - TN on Friday, February 9, 2024
DeHart drove away from the scene, the release said.
Multiple law enforcement agencies are actively searching for DeHart, who was last seen in the 4900 block of Sevierville Road in Maryville.
Multiple agencies collaborate to offer rewards
By early afternoon Friday, Berrong announced that the reward money being offered is at $80,000 thanks to several pledges from businesses and individuals, including $10,000 from the U.S. Marshals Service, up to $2,500 by TBI and $2,000 by East Tennessee Valley Crime Stoppers.
Smith & Wesson CEO Mark Smith is offering a $40,000 reward, Berrong added. Eggers sang the National Anthem at the company's grand opening in Maryville last year.
"We are beyond heartbroken by the events of last night in our new hometown community," Smith & Wesson posted on Facebook. "A manhunt is underway, and Smith & Wesson is adding $40,000 to reward money being offered. ... These men and women are the backbone of our community, tirelessly working to ensure our safety and well-being. This is a stark reminder of why we call them heroes, and why they deserve our unwavering support and respect. "
Anyone with information concerning DeHart's whereabouts is asked to call the Blount County Sheriff's Office at 865-981-7125 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
Liz Kellar is a Tennessee Connect reporter. Email liz.kellar@knoxnews.com. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Blount County deputy killed, TBI Blue Alert issued for suspect in shooting
