Deputy Sheriff Greg McCowan, age 43, from Maryville, Tennessee, tragically lost his life in the line of duty on February 8, 2024. The incident occurred during a traffic stop at 4959 Sevierville Road in Maryville, where Deputy McCowan was backing up another deputy who had pulled over a vehicle for erratic driving.
At approximately 8:00 p.m., the situation escalated when the driver, later identified as 42-year-old Kenneth DeHart, refused to cooperate with the deputies.
DeHart, a convicted felon, produced a firearm and opened fire, striking Deputy McCowan multiple times and wounding the other deputy in the leg. Despite the return fire from the injured deputy, DeHart managed to flee the scene in his vehicle.
Deputy McCowan was rushed to Blount Memorial Hospital, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries. The other deputy was treated for a leg wound and subsequently released from the hospital.
Following the shooting, an extensive manhunt was launched to apprehend the suspect. Law enforcement agencies issued warrants charging Kenneth DeHart with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. A reward of over $80,000 was offered for information leading to DeHart's arrest.
The search for DeHart continued for several days, with law enforcement conducting both aerial and ground searches. On February 13, 2024, five days after the shooting, Kenneth DeHart was finally apprehended in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation announced his capture, though specific details of the arrest were not immediately provided.
In connection with the case, DeHart's brother was arrested and charged with being an accessory for aiding the suspect after the homicide. Additionally, a woman identified as DeHart's girlfriend was also arrested on an accessory charge in the adjoining Sevier County.
Deputy Greg McCowan had served with the Blount County Sheriff's Office for four years, having begun his career as a deputy in 2020 after graduating from a regional law enforcement training class. He was known for his dedication to service and had previously received a life-saving award in April 2021 for his role in rescuing a man trapped in a burning vehicle.
McCowan is survived by his fiancée, Leah Lane, two children, Cayley and Cayden McCowan, and a granddaughter, Ella Underwood. He was remembered as a loving family man with a passion for his work in law enforcement. The community and his fellow officers mourned the loss of Deputy McCowan, recognizing him as a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
