DeHart Added to Tennessee Most Wanted List After Overnight Officer-Involved Shooting
Kenneth DeHart has just been added to the Tennessee Most Wanted list. He is wanted by the TBI and the Blount County Sheriff’s Office for First Degree Murder, Attempted First Degree Murder, and Felon in Possession of a Weapon after an officer-involved shooting that occurred Thursday evening, February 8, 2024.
Preliminary information released by the TBI indicates that just before 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, deputies with the 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. At least one of the deputies returned fire. One deputy was transported to an area hospital, where he later died. The other deputy was also transported with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. DeHart drove away from the scene.
Early Friday morning, TBI agents obtained warrants charging Kenneth DeHart with one count of First Degree Murder, one count of Attempted First Degree Murder, and one count of Felon in Possession of a Weapon.
He has not been located and is the subject of a search by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. He should be considered armed and dangerous. A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information leading to his arrest.
Have information? Call the Blount County Sheriff’s Office at (865) 981-7125 or the TBI at (800) TBI-FIND/824-3463.
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