Suspect wanted for shooting, killing deputy during traffic stop arrested after dayslong manhunt

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT/Gray News) - Kenneth DeHart, the man accused of killing Blount County, Tennessee, Deputy Greg McCowan and injuring Deputy Shelby Eggers, was caught Tuesday in Knox County, according to U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Tennessee David Jolley.

He was taken into custody at a home on Linden Avenue, according to the Knoxville Police Department.

DeHart was wanted for first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder in the shooting, Blount County Sheriff’s Office officials said. Early reports of the shooting from the BCSO said DeHart was stopped for driving erratically, then things escalated, leading to the shooting.

“Kenneth Wayne DeHart was taken into custody a short time ago in Knoxville! Now the judicial process will take place in the court system. Thanks to all of our law enforcement partners and our community,” BCSO officials said.

The search for DeHart has been ongoing since Thursday night, when the shooting occurred. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued a Blue Alert for DeHart. The TBI teamed up with federal agencies to join in the search, like the U.S. Marshals.

WVLT News spoke with Roberta Martin, who lives near where DeHart was taken into custody.

“The first thing I heard sounded like a bomb. Then I looked out the door, and I saw all this smoke,” Martin said. “I figured it was a smoke bomb, but I didn’t know what was going on. I had no idea what was going on. And then that’s when I started seeing all these police officers with their guns drawn and behind cars. But I still didn’t know what was going on until later on until somebody said the man was in there that had shot the officer.”

After the arrest, Blount County Sheriff James Lee Berrong held a news conference to share his thoughts and information on the hunt for DeHart, during which he called for serious consequences for DeHart.

“I want the death penalty,” Berrong said.

Previously, Berrong has alluded to McCowan’s and Eggers’ body camera footage, saying their actions and what they went through qualifies them as heroes. He said he plans to release that body camera footage soon but wants to give the families affected the chance to watch it first.

He also said that DeHart was not being held in Blount County in order to avoid any possible blame should anything happen to DeHart while in custody.

As for details in the search, Berrong said several investigation techniques led to DeHart’s arrest. Still, no one had submitted a tip that warranted awarding the $100,000 that the sheriff’s office had offered for information.

After using those investigation techniques to locate DeHart, Berrong said, the arresting squads moved on the Knoxville house. Right now, there is no information on whether others were using the house to hide DeHart from law enforcement, but Berrong said the home was empty when deputies went inside.

Other investigators said during the news conference that they believed DeHart was getting help and using cars to move around. While unconfirmed, investigators said DeHart may have ended up in Georgia while on the run from police.

DeHart’s arrest follows the arrest of two others in the case: his girlfriend, Carrie Matthews, and his brother, Marcus DeHart, who were both charged with accessory after the fact.

Since Thursday, the Maryville and Blount County communities have been rallying around McCowan’s family to offer support.

Community members took to the streets as McCowan’s body was escorted from the Knox County Forensics Center to Smith Funeral Home. Local businesses and groups have also been making merchandise and taking donations to support McCowan’s family.

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