In the quiet community of Blountville, Tennessee, a welfare check on a Saturday morning in late February of 2019 escalated into a tragic event that claimed the life of a dedicated public servant. Sullivan County Sheriff's Deputy Steve Hinkle, a 65-year-old male, was shot while responding to a call at a residence on Highway 11W. The initial call was to check on the well-being of the man inside the home.
Upon their arrival, deputies were met with gunfire from within the house.
As they attempted to establish communication and de-escalate the situation, more shots were fired, and Deputy Hinkle was struck. The shooter, identified as 44-year-old Jackie Scott Pendergrass, barricaded himself inside the home, leading to a lengthy standoff with law enforcement. After several hours of attempting to negotiate with Pendergrass, officers found him deceased inside the residence.
Deputy Hinkle, a 27-year veteran of the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, was critically injured in the exchange of gunfire and transported to a local hospital. He succumbed to his wounds on Tuesday, February 26, 2019. In a private ceremony at the hospital, he was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Hinkle was a beloved member of the department and the community, having served in various roles, including as a school resource officer at Sullivan Central High School. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation handled the investigation into the shooting. In the summer of 2019, a section of Highway 11W in Blountville was dedicated as the Sergeant Steve Hinkle Memorial Highway to honor his sacrifice.
