KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The 42-year-old man suspected of killing a Blount County deputy and wounding another deputy is a convicted felon with a violent past who served time in prison on a weapons charge, federal records show.
As of Friday morning, Kenneth Wayne DeHart Jr. was a fugitive following a shooting Thursday night in Blount County in which authorities say he killed a deputy and wounded another. DeHart fled after the shooting on Sevierville Road and was being sought Friday, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
DeHart was convicted in 2005 in U.S. District Court in Knoxville on the weapons charge, records show. He was sentenced to 37 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
The conviction came as a result of a police stop and standoff on Aug. 31, 2004, in Pigeon Forge. DeHart was riding in a vehicle with another man who identified himself as George Simmons.
According to a Pigeon Forge police report, the stop occurred on the Parkway in the parking lot of Stewart's Discount Drugs. Riding in the front passenger seat, DeHart gave his name as "Jerome Roberson," according to the report.
During the police stop, records show, DeHart refused to cooperate with authorities and put a gun to his head
"Mr. DeHart was later found not to have a permit for this weapon," the report states. "Mr. DeHart held police at bay while threatening to kill himself."
DeHart had outstanding warrants for weapons offenses in Blount County, federal records state.
DeHart ultimately was arrested and taken into custody. Police said they found three hydrocodone pills in his pocket.
Simmons ended up being a co-defendant with DeHart in the federal case.
DeHart also has been in the custody of the state prison system, Tennessee Department of Correction records show. His term in the state system ended in 2007, records show.
DeHart also was charged in 2017 in Blount County with attacking his girlfriend and trying to strangle her, court records show.
The incident happened in June 2017, court records show. A grand jury indicted him on an aggravated assault count. He pleaded guilty about a year later to misdemeanor domestic assault.
In 2017, DeHart also faced accusations of violating an order of protection, state records show.
DeHart's past arrest record includes an aggravated assault case from 2002, according to a TBI record.
Late Thursday, according to the TBI, DeHart had a firearm when he was confronted by two Blount County deputies during a traffic stop.
He's now facing warrants for first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and being a felon in possession of a weapon.
As of Friday afternoon, authorities were offering rewards of more than $80,000 for information leading to DeHart's arrest.
If you have any information about DeHart's whereabouts, call 865-981-7125 or 800-TBI-FIND.
