Tennessee Deputy Shot and Killed at Traffic Stop, Suspect at Large

At some point during the encounter, the suspect produced a gun and fired shots, striking both deputies. One was fatally wounded; the other was shot in the leg and returned fire.

by Staff

February 9, 2024

Tennessee Deputy Shot and Killed at Traffic Stop, Suspect at Large

Blount County (Tennessee) Sheriff's Deputy Greg McCowan was shot and killed during a traffic stop Thursday night.

Credit:

Blount County SO

1 min to read

A Blount County (Tennessee) Sheriff’s deputy was shot and killed and another deputy was wounded Thursday night during a traffic stop in Maryville.

Deputy Greg McCowan and Deputy Shelby Eggers stopped an SUV reportedly driven by Kenneth Wayne DeHart at 8:30 p.m. According to a release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation 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.

McCowan died at a local hospital. Eggers was treated and released, Knox News reports.

DeHart, 42, is now the subject of a manhunt and a statewide Blue Alert. About $80,000 in reward money has been offered for information leading to his arrest.

Topics:Tennessee agencies Traffic Stops Duty Deaths Patrol

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