Kenneth DeHart Jr (2024)

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Overview

News report with police video

On February 8, 2024, Blount County Tennessee Sheriff's Office Deputy Shelby Eggers stopped DeHart for driving erratically. Eggers claimed to smell marijuana in the vehicle and ordered DeHart to exit as she had probable cause to search the vehicle. Dehart refused to exit.[1]

Deputy Greg McCowan arrived as backup.[1]

Eggers threatened to pull DeHart from the vehicle if he did not cooperate. Eggers opened the vehicle's door and attempted to pull DeHart out. McCowen tased DeHart. DeHart closed the door, which the officers opened before tasing him again. DeHart closed the door again and fired a handgun at the officers, striking both Eggers and McCowen.[1] DeHart drove away from the scene.[2] Eggers returned fire.[3]

The incident was captured on the officers' body-worn cameras and in-vehicle cameras.

Deputy McCowen died at the hospital.[3]

On February 13, 2024, DeHart was located in a neighboring county and arrested.[4]

DeHart was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and felon in possession of a weapon.[2]

Police arrested DeHart's brother, girlfriend, and a friend for helping DeHart evade arrest.[5][6]

On February 16, 2024, the agency released the videos.[1]


Officers Involved

Public Comments

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Hope McAlee, Blount County Sheriff’s Office releases video of deputy shooting, WATE, 2024-02-16
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hannah Moore, Case for Blount County Deputy shooting suspect bound over to grand jury, WATE, 2024-03-25
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Tyler Whetstone, Court records: Brother and girlfriend of man accused of killing Blount County deputy helped him escape, Knoxville News Sentinel, 2024-02-12
  4. ↑ Camruinn Morgan-Rumsey, Suspect wanted for shooting, killing deputy during traffic stop arrested after dayslong manhunt, WSAZ, 2024-02-13
  5. ↑ Allie Feinberg, Kenneth DeHart arrest: What led police to the Linden Avenue home after a deputy's shooting, Knoxville News Sentinel, 2024-02-14
  6. ↑ Hope McAlee, Man accused of buying phones for Kenneth DeHart on the night of deputy’s death, WATE, 2024-02-16

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