A man that was wanted on several charges in Henry County including rape was shot and killed by a deputy following a manhunt on Tuesday. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office had been looking for 35-year-old Christopher Thomas Shepherd since Sunday after his girlfriend reported that he had sexually assaulted her and held her against her will.

The shooting took place in a large wooded area behind Berry Hill Court Ext. in Henry County. A K9 was able to track Shepherd into the woods. Shepherd then reportedly pulled out a gun and was shot by at least one member of the SWAT team.

In a press conference, Henry County Sheriff Wayne Davis said deputies attempted to de-escalate the situation for 9 minutes. Sheriff Davis also added that bodycam footage shows that Shepherd and the Deputy that shot him fired their weapons almost simultaneously.

Deputies immediately began life-saving measures, but he was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Deputy that shot Shepherd has been placed on administrative leave with pay, which is standard procedure.

Shepherd was wanted on charges of:

• Rape
• Object Sexual Penetration
• Strangulation
• Abduction
• Assault and Battery of a Family or Household Member
• Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
• Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony

Shepherd was also wanted in North Carolina for a probation violation related to a prior felony conviction. This story will be updated when more information is available.

Virginia State Police are investigating.