A manhunt is underway for a Special Forces veteran who shot his wife during a domestic dispute.
The Stewart County, Tennessee Sheriff's Office has been searching for Craig Berry since May 1. Berry's wife survived but was hospitalized. Berry is considered armed and dangerous.
"The Sheriff’s Office is still searching for Craig Berry," Sheriff's Office Media Relations Coordinator Paulette Redman said in a
press release on Facebook. The release noted that a second warrant was issued for 2nd-degree attempted murder; they did not publicly state what the first warrant was for.
"Berry is a retired special forces veteran and has extensive training in survival tactics," the press release stated. "He is an excellent swimmer and diver, and is in good physical shape. He is armed with at least one handgun and is believed to have taken extra ammunition."
According to a
statement, deputies responded to the area at around 1:30 a.m. on May 1; Berry had already fled into the woods by that point. Deputies assumed that he was armed and dangerous at the time. Authorities believe he did not have a phone or any other means of communication.
Later that morning, deputies enlisted the help of the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security. As of May 4, they had enlisted the help of the U.S. Marshals Service. A trail camera image attached to the second release showed Berry wearing camouflage clothing.
On
May 2, deputies had scaled back the search of the nearby woods as they were unsure if Berry was still in the area. Authorities did not rule out the possibility that he had received outside assistance. Police have asked locals to use their private trail cams to assist in the search.
Berry's wife—who has not been identified to date—was hospitalized on May 1.
No information on either Berry or his wife was released, but the
Stewart County School District issued a notice on May 1 connecting his wife to the district.
"We are aware of a serious incident involving one of our staff members," the release stated. "We understand this news may be upsetting to students, staff, and families. Please know that this incident did not occur on school grounds, and there is no ongoing threat to our schools. Our thoughts are with our staff member and her loved ones during this time. We will continue to respect her privacy."
The District also issued a
soft lockdown on May 4 as a precautionary measure: students and staff remained inside the building, and no outdoor activities were permitted; classroom instruction remained unchanged. The district cooperated with law enforcement to ensure student and staff safety.
