Suspect captured after manhunt

By JAMES CLARK Editor for the Southern Standard

Chris Harwell tells a Coffee County sheriff?s deputy about the shot he heard coming from the home of Kip and Tracey Green of Manchester following a mid-day robbery and shooting at the Green?s home on Old Woodbury Highway.

A Warren County Sheriff?s Department helicopter was used in the search for a Coffee County fugitive yesterday after the man reportedly shot a woman and eluded police gunfire.

The suspect, Christopher Michael Buchanon, 24, was in custody last night after a five-hour manhunt.

?We?re always happy to help,? said Sheriff Jackie Matheny. ?They sent a lot of men here just a few weeks ago when we were hit by the tornadoes so this was a quick way for us to repay them.?

The chain of events that led to Buchanon?s arrest started around 11 a.m. Thursday. He and an unidentified female companion were reportedly at the Old Woodbury Highway home of Tracey Green when she returned from taking her children to Tuesday-Thursday day care.

When Green realized intruders were inside her home, she turned and ran. It was at that point she was shot in the back right shoulder by a .45 caliber weapon, according to police reports.

The suspects then fled in what was described by witnesses as an old Buick that was smoking considerably. A deputy spotted a vehicle that matched that description in northern Coffee County about an hour later on Boynton Valley Road.

When the suspect tried to drive away, the deputy opened fire and shot out the back window. Shattered glass cut a toddler who was inside the car, which is contrary to erroneous reports that indicated the toddler was in fact shot.

Buchanon left the toddler and his female companion behind and fled on foot in the rural, heavily wooded portion of Coffee County. He was considered armed and dangerous before being apprehended and returned to Coffee County Jail.

This will make the third charge against Buchanon in just over a month. He faces charges of drug possession and theft for arrests from March 18 and April 5. He was out on bond at the time of Thursday?s shooting.

Information from The Saturday Independent contributed to this report.