Wanted woman arrested days after allegedly killing man who was found dead on tractor

NELSON COUNTY, Va. (TCN) -- Authorities arrested a 22-year-old woman several days after she allegedly killed a 47-year-old man and fled to another county.

According to the Nelson County Sheriff's Office, on April 18, deputies responded to a home in the Shipman area, where they found Kevin Small deceased with a gunshot wound to his chest. His body was on a tractor at the time, WSET-TV reports.

Investigators reportedly recovered a cartridge casing at the scene. They also spoke with a man who allegedly claimed his granddaughter, Katelynn Ann Hipes, argued with Small and then shot him.

Nelson County officials obtained arrest warrants for Hipes on charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The sheriff's office posted a bulletin, asking the public for help in locating the suspect.

On April 22, the Harrisonburg Police Department announced that they arrested Hipes at a home on Lee Avenue with help from the SWAT and Crisis Negotiations teams.

According to WSET, Nelson County Sheriff Mark Embrey said Hipes and Small were friends, but officials are still investigating the nature of their relationship. In a statement, the sheriff reportedly said the investigation involved "a lot of moving parts. Harrisonburg had notified us once they learned that there was a residence in their jurisdiction that they felt very confident Ms. Hipes was currently in."

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