Manhunt underway for Tennessee man suspected of fatally shooting sheriff’s deputy and injuring another, officials say
Originally Published: 09 FEB 24 00:29 ET Updated: 09 FEB 24 11:20 ET By Paradise Afshar and Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN
(CNN) — 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 $50,000 is now being offered for information leading to Dehart’s capture, Berrong said Friday.
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.
This story has been updated with additional information.
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