A Flovilla man is in custody after a more than 10 hour manhunt across Butts County that followed a reported domestic shooting, according to the sheriff's office. Deputies, backed by the Georgia Department of Corrections K‑9 unit, tracked the suspect after he took off on foot and eventually arrested him.
According to FOX 5 Atlanta, the Butts County Sheriff's Office identified the suspect as 46-year-old Darian Berry Sr., who investigators say allegedly shot the mother of his child on Tuesday before fleeing. As the search stretched on, officials warned residents that Berry was believed to be armed and urged anyone with information to call 911.
Search and arrest
Deputies credited the Georgia Department of Corrections K‑9 unit and its bloodhounds with tracking Berry down after an extensive search, and the sheriff publicly praised the interagency teamwork. "If you threaten the safety of our citizens, we will pursue you relentlessly, we will work together and we will bring you before the justice system," Sheriff Gary Long wrote in a statement, according to WSB‑TV.
Charges and the investigation
Per FOX 5 Atlanta, Berry faces a long list of charges, including aggravated assault, stalking, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, obstruction, battery under the Family Violence Act, false imprisonment and several arson counts. Authorities say the investigation is still active and Berry will be formally charged in court. The sheriff's release did not disclose the condition of the woman and child involved.
What officials told neighbors
The sheriff's office reminded residents not to confront any suspect themselves and to call 911 with tips, a message that local media echoed as the search unfolded. Local officials later praised deputies and K‑9 teams for their persistence in a case that pulled the rural county together during an intense day on the ground, according to WSB‑TV.
