Subject of Benton County manhunt dies at hospital

Christopher Lee Hood, 39, subject of a four-day manhunt in Arkansas and Missouri that ended Monday, died Thursday at Washington Regional Medical Center, according to the Benton County Sheriff's Office.

 Christopher Hood.
Christopher Hood.

He was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head following a Missouri car chase involving McDonald County, Mo. and Benton County deputies on Monday.

Hood was taken to Washington Regional Medical Center via air ambulance on Monday in the custody of the Benton County Sheriff's Office, Keshia Guyll, spokeswoman said Monday.

He died there Thursday, Guyll said.

Officers had pursued Hood since about 8 p.m. Friday, when deputies attempted to serve a warrant at The Links at Rainbow Curve apartment complex on Southwest Regional Airport Boulevard in Bentonville. Hood jumped the curb and drove off leading deputies on a chase across the golf course and firing a shot at them after wrecking the car.

Deputies searched for Hood into the night on Friday.

He was spotted again Saturday, near dusk in Bella Vista near Mercy Way. The road was shut down just after 9 p.m. while officers again searched for Hood into the morning hours.

Monday morning a McDonald County, Missouri deputy tried to pull Hood over and Hood led deputies from Benton and McDonald County in what court papers for a woman arrested on suspicion of aiding him called a 30-minute car chase that ended at about 11 a.m.

During the Missouri chase, Hood fired on deputies again.

Guyll said Monday that a deputy tapped Hood's vehicle with his own in an attempt to force it off the road and end the pursuit. Hood shot himself as the pursuit ended.

A statement from Sheriff Kelley Cradduck posted on social media Monday thanked the law enforcement agencies who helped look for Hood.

“Our prayers are with his family, I hope that he will recover and be able to get his life back on track,” Cradduck posted.

An investigation centering on Hood will be completed, reports filed and evidence submitted, Guyll said Thursday.

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