2 deputies shot, 1 killed at traffic stop in Blount County, Tennessee, manhunt underway

A manhunt is underway by local, state, and federal officials after two deputies were shot − one fatally − late Thursday in Blount County, Tennessee.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation added shooting suspect, Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr., 41, to the TBI’s Most Wanted list early Friday morning following the shooting that stemmed from a traffic stop.

Just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday, the TBI reported, deputies with the Blount County Sheriff’s Office pulled an SUV over in the city of Maryville on U.S. Route 411.

It was not immediately known why deputies pulled the vehicle over along the two-lane highway about 16 miles south of Knoxville. The shooting scene was about 35 miles north of the Great Smoky Mountains.

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Slain deputy identified as Greg McCowan

"This the hardest thing I've ever done," Blount County Sheriff James L. Berrong said through tears during a press conference Thursday night after the shooting.

Berrong, whose held the title of sheriff since 1989, identified the slain deputy as Greg McCowan.

According to a post on the sheriff’s department's Facebook page, McCowan graduated from the police academy in October 2020.

Officials have not released the identity of the other deputy shot.

A Taser deployed and multiple shots fired

During the stop, the driver, identified as DeHart "would not cooperate with deputies and refused to get out of the vehicle," the TBI wrote in a news release.

At some point, one officer deployed a Taser, but it had "no effect," officials wrote in the release.

DeHart then pulled out a gun and fired shots, striking both deputies.

At least one of the deputies returned fire during the melee and, the release continues, DeHart drove away from the scene. It was not immediately known if gunfire struck DeHart.

One deputy was transported to an area hospital, where he later died while the other deputy was taken to a hospital to be treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

The deputy who lived, a female, suffered a gunshot wound to the the leg and is who fired back, Berrong said.

10,000 reward being offered in case

On Friday TBI agents obtained warrants charging DeHart with one count of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of a felon being in possession of a weapon.

Berrong said DeHart is considered armed and dangerous and a $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest and prosecution.

The shooting remained under investigation by the TBI Friday who said its investigative findings will be shared with the Blount County District Attorney General for review.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.