MARYVILLE, TN – A manhunt is underway in eastern Tennessee as law enforcement officials seek 42-year-old Kenneth Dehart in connection with a shooting that claimed the life of a sheriff’s deputy and left another officer injured.
According to Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong, Dehart is a suspect in the fatal shooting of Deputy Greg McCowan during a traffic stop on Thursday night. Warrants have been issued for Dehart’s arrest on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Another officer, a female deputy, was shot in the leg during the incident but managed to return fire. Currently, she is receiving medical treatment at a local hospital.
The tragic loss of Deputy McCowan marks a grim occasion for Berrong and his department. “This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done. We had an officer killed tonight,” a distressed Berrong said in a press conference.
The sheriff’s department has issued a reward of $10,000 for information leading to Dehart’s capture. Berrong vowed to see justice served and the suspect apprehended, warning citizens to avoid contact as Dehart is considered armed and dangerous.
Dehart was last seen in the city of Maryville, situated approximately 17 miles south of Knoxville, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Multiple law enforcement agencies are cooperating in the ongoing search operation.