Manhunt underway after Tennessee deputy shot, killed during traffic stop

Feb. 9 (UPI) -- A manhunt Friday searched for the killer of a Blount County, Tenn., sheriff's deputy following a Thursday evening traffic stop. Another deputy also was wounded.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday, "Blount County Sheriff's Office initiated a traffic stop on an SUV in the 4900 block of Sevierville Road in Maryville. The driver, identified as Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr. (DOB: 1/12/82), would not cooperate with deputies and refused to get out of the vehicle. A taser was deployed with no effect. At some point during the encounter, DeHart produced a gun and fired shots, striking both deputies."

Warrants Friday charged DeHart with first degree murder, attempted first degree murder and felon in possession of a weapon.

Killed was Deputy Greg McCowan. Deputy Shelby Eggers was wounded and hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries.

At least one of the deputies returned fire, according to TBI.

An $80,000 reward was announced by the Blount County sheriff's office for DeHart's capture. That includes $40,000 from Smith & Wesson CEO Mark Smith, $10,000 from the U.S. Marshals Service and pledges from other businesses and individuals.

DeHart's criminal record revealed 26 different criminal charges from 2002-2017, including aggravated assault, domestic violence and unlawful possession of a weapon counts.

The records show he served four years at the Charles B. Bass Correctional Complex for aggravated assault.