- Craig Berry, a retired Army Special Forces veteran, was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, ending a massive multi-agency manhunt in Stewart County, Tennessee.
- Berry had allegedly shot his wife — a local schoolteacher — during a domestic incident at their Dover, Tennessee home early Friday morning before fleeing the scene.
- His wife was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries but has since been released, according to the Stewart County Sheriff.
- Berry had been added to Tennessee’s Most Wanted list and was considered armed, dangerous, and highly trained in survival tactics.
DOVER, Tennessee — A massive manhunt that gripped Stewart County came to a sudden end after the man at the center of it was found dead.
Craig Berry, a retired Army Special Forces veteran accused of shooting his wife during a violent domestic incident, is dead. Deputy U.S. Marshal Christian A. Marrero confirmed to Fox News Digital that Berry is “no longer a threat to the public.”
The Stewart County Sheriff’s Office said initial indications point to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
What Happened Early Friday Morning
According to Stewart County Sheriff Frankie Gray, Berry allegedly shot his wife at the couple’s home in Dover, Tennessee in the early morning hours.
His wife — a local schoolteacher who has not been named by authorities — tried to escape in her car.
Berry fired a shot at her as she drove away. He then attempted to follow her before crashing his own vehicle, leaving it totaled.
She made it out alive. She was taken to a hospital with what the sheriff described as life-threatening injuries, but has since been released.
Investigators have spoken with her multiple times since the incident.
A Trained Soldier With Survival Skills
What made this manhunt particularly urgent was who they were looking for.
Berry served in the U.S. Army from 1992 to 2016 as an infantryman and Special Forces medical sergeant, leaving as a sergeant first class. He deployed to Iraq four times between 2003 and 2014.
Deputies warned the public that Berry was an “excellent swimmer and diver,” believed to be in good physical shape, and had extensive training in survival tactics.
Sheriff Gray said the search was “urgent” and urged residents to lock their doors. He also feared Berry might attempt to steal a vehicle to escape.
One family member spoke to Berry by phone shortly after the shooting. Authorities believe he then destroyed his phone.
Massive Multi-Agency Response
The hunt for Berry pulled in resources from across the state.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol deployed helicopters and troopers to assist the Stewart County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Berry was added to the TBI’s Most Wanted list. The U.S. Marshals offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to his capture.
Troopers and deputies combed through densely wooded terrain in the hours following the shooting.
A Community Left Shaken
The impact of the incident extended beyond law enforcement.
Stewart County Schools issued a statement confirming that Berry’s wife is a staff member, while reassuring parents and students that the incident did not occur on school grounds and posed no threat to schools.
“Our thoughts are with our staff member and her loved ones during this time,” the district said. “We will continue to respect her privacy.”
Sheriff Gray noted there may have been a financial situation between the couple but declined to speculate further on what led to the alleged attack.
The manhunt is over. But for a small Tennessee community — and one family in particular — the aftermath is only beginning.
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