Deputy Whitten was shot in the line of duty May 29, 2019 when responding to a shooting at a local plumbing company. Deputy Whitten pursued the vehicle that the shooter was in and conducted a felony stop. When the defendant exited the vehicle he shot at Deputy Whitten. The bullet entered Deputy Whitten’s neck, struck his spine and fragmented. A portion of the bullet made an exit wound on the back of his neck. The other part of the bullet struck the spinal cord and lodged in it causing permanent paralyzation from his mid-chest down.

Due to the extenuating circumstances caused by the bullet, Deputy Whitten suffered a fatal heart attack.