A Tennessee man accused of killing two people and attempting to kill a third has been taken into custody after nearly two weeks on the run, according to police.
The state highway patrol announced on Twitter at around noon ET Friday that Kirby Gene Wallace, 53, had been captured.
Wallace was taken into custody by Henry County Sheriff Monte Belew and Henry County Corporal Stacey Bostwick while the pair patrolled a wooded area just beyond the zone authorities were searching for the day. Belew told reporters Friday he and Bostwick took an elevated position behind two deer stands when Wallace began walking in their direction.
"He hadn't seen me yet and just kept walking toward me so i let him get about 25 yards from me and then identified myself as sheriff's office and drew down on him, I had an AR-15 on him," Belew told reporters. "He was very cooperative at first."
Belew said the suspect walked behind a tree and came out with hands around his waist before Wallace eventually put his hands up and went down on his knees to surrender. Authorities found a loaded handgun in Wallace's waistband.
"So we are very fortunate that we didn't end up in a shootout with the suspect," Belew told reporters. "He told us it crossed his mind. He just thought we had the drop on him so he didn't take that action and we're very thankful."
Wallace is accused of murdering two people within a less than two-week span.
The first, Brenda Smith, was killed after she and her husband Teddy reportedly walked in on Wallace burglarizing their home after returning from church on Sept. 22, according to WSMV.
Wallace allegedly tied the Smiths up and set the home on fire, killing Brenda Smith, 63. Teddy Smith was able to escape with non-life-threatening injuries and taken to a nearby hospital, according to the Tennessean.
Earlier this week, it is believed Wallace shot dead a man while stealing his truck.
Wallace is accused of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated arson, especially aggravated kidnapping, especially aggravated robbery and especially aggravated burglary, among other charges, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
He was on the TBI's "Top Ten Most Wanted" list.
Before he was captured, Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson had urged Wallace to turn himself in peacefully.
"One way or the other, you’re coming in ... We want to bring this down peacefully, so you could do yourself a favor and turn yourself in," he said. "I know that you’re tired, I know that you're in the woods and you don’t have much to do with, but just turn yourself in and we’ll bring this thing to a resolution," Fuson said.
