BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — The Blount County Sheriff's Office released body camera and dashcam footage from a traffic stop that resulted in the shooting death of one of its deputies after holding a press conference at 4:30 p.m. on Friday to discuss and release the footage.
WBIR did not show the press conference live out of respect for the family and caution towards the video's contents.
The video is graphic and disturbing. It was released with permission from the family of Greg McCowan, the deputy who was fatally shot. Shelby Eggers, another deputy who was wounded in the shooting, also gave permission for the video's release. The raw video is available at the bottom of this article.
At around 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 8, McCowan and Eggers pulled over Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr. in the 4900 block of Sevierville Road in Maryville. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said he was pulled over for "suspicion of erratic driving."
DeHart Jr. "would not cooperate with deputies" and refused to get out of the vehicle, according to the TBI. The bureau said deputies then used a Taser on DeHart Jr. "with no effect."
According to a release from the TBI, DeHart Jr. is accused of then pulling out a gun and shooting both deputies before fleeing. At least one of the deputies returned fire, according to the TBI.
McCowan was taken to a hospital where he later died. Eggers was transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. She has since been released and is now recovering at home, BCSO said.
DeHart Jr. led authorities on a five-day manhunt before he was captured at a Linden Avenue home on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Two days later, he was arraigned on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and being a felon in possession of a weapon.
Three other people were arrested and charged with being an accessory after the fact in the shooting. They were Marcus Dehart, Dehart Jr.'s brother, as well as Carrie Matthews, who the Sevier County Sheriff's Office said was his girlfriend. In Matthews' arrest, authorities said she helped him when she answered a phone call and told the caller, "They're here," referring to authorities at her home.
Maurice Donnell Warren was arrested Wednesday after authorities said he bought two Tracfone cellphones and SIM cards for DeHart Jr. after the shooting.
This video below shows the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of a Blount County deputy, Greg McCowan. It also shows deputy Shelby Eggers being wounded, as well as Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr. being Tased by authorities.
It is violent and shocking. Viewer discretion is advised.