Sheriff’s Office Confirms Death of Special Forces Veteran
The Stewart County Sheriff’s Office has announced that Craig Berry, a U.S. Special Forces veteran who was the focus of a significant manhunt, was discovered deceased from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Berry, 53, was facing several serious felony charges, including attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault, and domestic assault, following a violent incident. These accusations arose from a situation where he allegedly shot at his wife. Despite being hit, she managed to flee and survive the altercation. He was also cited for leaving the scene of a related accident.
In an attempt to escape, Berry’s wife—whose name hasn’t been released—was driving away when Berry reportedly fired several shots at her before chasing her in his vehicle, ultimately crashing during the pursuit. Although the initial injuries she sustained were described as “life-threatening” by Sheriff Frankie Gray, she was later stabilized and discharged from the hospital.
Berry served in the Army from 1992 until 2016, rising to the rank of sergeant first class. His deployment history included four tours to Iraq between 2003 and 2014, according to information from an Army spokesperson.
Officials noted during the search that Berry had significant survival training and was deemed an “excellent swimmer and diver.” They cautioned the public, indicating that he was “armed and dangerous,” having disappeared with at least one handgun and extra ammunition.
After the incident, Stewart County Schools released a statement on Facebook to confirm that Berry’s wife is a teacher at the school. The post expressed the community’s support for her as she recovers from the traumatic events.
“We are aware of a serious incident involving one of our staff members. This news may be unsettling for students, staff, and families. Please understand that this incident did not happen on school property, 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 stated.
