Federal and state law enforcement agencies have descended upon a rural area in Tennessee in pursuit of a fugitive with military training, who is accused of shooting his wife before disappearing into the thick forest.
Authorities have identified the suspect as Craig Berry, 44, a former Special Forces veteran highly skilled in survival. Berry vanished from a home in Stewart County in the early hours of Sunday morning, according to the sheriff’s office.
Berry faces charges of second-degree attempted murder, officials stated.
Law enforcement officers responded around 1:30 a.m. to a residence near Old Paris Highway, where Berry allegedly shot his wife amid a domestic dispute. She was taken to a hospital by emergency medical personnel, though her current condition remains undisclosed.
Berry was last spotted in the vicinity of River Trace Road. Authorities are undertaking an “intensive search” from River Trace Road extending to Highway 79 and parts of Highway 232, as reported by the sheriff’s office on Monday.
Berry fled into the adjacent woods before deputies could reach the scene, prompting a swiftly expanding manhunt across the challenging terrain near the Tennessee-Kentucky border.
Authorities say Berry is armed with at least one handgun, may be carrying additional ammunition and should be considered highly dangerous.
Berry’s background in Special Forces and survival skills have heightened authorities’ concerns. The sheriff’s office said that he is highly familiar with the area and trained in survival tactics.
“He is very familiar with the area,” Sheriff Gray said.
Berry was captured by a trail camera wearing camouflage clothing, the sheriff’s office said when releasing the photo.
The Stewart County Sheriff’s Office says Craig Berry was captured by a trail camera wearing camouflage clothing. (Stewart County Sheriff’s Office)
Investigators say Berry was last tracked by K-9 units near River Trace Road, but officials said that they no longer know whether he remains in the immediate area.
The search zone has steadily expanded from the initial scene near Old Paris Highway to include Gray’s Landing and corridors along highways 232 and 79.
The operation also now involves the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Craig Berry, the sheriff’s office said, is a retired special forces veteran and has extensive training in survival tactics. Officials added “he is an excellent swimmer and diver, and is in good physical shape.” (Stewart County Sheriff’s Office)
Authorities have also warned that Berry may be attempting to evade detection by moving through wooded areas in camouflage clothing.
Officials describe him as physically fit, capable of navigating difficult terrain and waterways, noting he is believed to be a strong swimmer and diver.
Investigators said that Berry does not appear to have a phone or electronic means of communication, limiting their ability to track him.
Officials have also not ruled out the possibility that he may have received outside assistance after the shooting.
Craig Berry is seen in an undated photo released by the Stewart County Sheriff’s Office. (Stewart County Sheriff’s Office)
Law enforcement, the sheriff’s department said Monday, has begun shifting tactics by scaling back some broad woodland sweeps while preparing for more targeted searches based on leads.
Authorities have also turned to the public for help, urging residents to remain alert, lock their doors and report anything suspicious.
They have asked property owners to check trail cameras for possible images of Berry, suggesting investigators believe he may still be moving through areas.
“We have no information that he is no longer in the area,” the sheriff’s office said in its latest update.
For now, authorities are warning residents not to approach Berry and if spotted, to call 911 immediately.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Stewart County Sheriff’s Office for additional details.
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