A 22-year-old woman from Augusta who was wanted for murder in Nelson County was arrested Monday afternoon during a coordinated SWAT operation in Harrisonburg.

Katelynn Ann Hipes was taken into custody without incident after the Harrisonburg Police Department (HPD), working in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Task Force, executed a search warrant at a residence on Lee Avenue. The arrest followed a days-long hunt for her stemming from the April 18^th shooting of Kevin Scott Small in Shipman.

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Nelson County Sheriff Mark Embrey said deputies were called to a residence early Friday morning for a report of an unresponsive male.

Upon arrival, deputies discovered Small, 41, outside the home with a single gunshot wound to the chest. Emergency medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene.

Following the discovery, Nelson County investigators quickly identified Hipes, a lifelong resident of Augusta County, as the suspect in Small’s killing. Felony arrest warrants were obtained, and although Sheriff Embrey announced the alleged murder, he withheld Hipes identity from the public to avoid jeopardizing the search efforts.

As the investigation progressed, authorities received credible information suggesting Hipes had fled Nelson County and was possibly hiding in Harrisonburg. Her identity was released, and she was posted as wanted.

Meanwhile, intelligence was shared with HPD, which moved swiftly to locate and apprehend Hipes.

After coordinating with the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Task Force to pinpoint her location, HPD’s Criminal Investigations Division secured a search warrant for a Lee Avenue residence.

At approximately 4:00 p.m. on April 22, the HPD SWAT team, assisted by the Crisis Negotiations Team, executed the warrant, and Hipes was taken into custody.

Hipes is charged with 2^nd degree murder and using a firearm in commission of a felony.