SCOTTSBORO, Ala. – A tense and emotional manhunt in Scottsboro came to a decisive end late Saturday night, July 26, 2025, with the capture of Daniel Victor McCarn, the 29-year-old Huntsville resident accused of shooting a Scottsboro Police officer earlier that day.

Just minutes after 10:00 p.m., authorities confirmed that McCarn was taken into custody without further incident, bringing relief to the law enforcement community and Scottsboro residents who had been on high alert throughout the day. The capture occurred on the 2000 block of Old Larkinsville Road, approximately five miles from where McCarn was last seen, following a tip from a local business owner who spotted him on security camera footage. Scottsboro Police, utilizing a drone equipped with FLIR heat-tracking technology, located McCarn in a wooded area near railroad tracks and apprehended him without resistance.

The incident began just before 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2025, when Scottsboro Police responded to a domestic disturbance call on Ruth Street. Upon arrival, McCarn fled the scene in a vehicle, prompting a police pursuit. The chase ended in a crash at the intersection of U.S. Highway 72 and County Park Road. After exiting the vehicle, McCarn allegedly opened fire on officers, striking one before fleeing on foot. The injured officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, was transported to Huntsville Hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities report the officer underwent a procedure and is expected to recover.

The shooting triggered an extensive multi-agency manhunt involving the Scottsboro Police Department, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). A Blue Alert was issued by ALEA’s Fusion Center, warning the public of McCarn’s status as armed and dangerous. Described as a white male, 5’10”, 170 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, McCarn was last seen wearing a gray shirt, black shorts, and no shoes, and reportedly walks with a limp.

For hours, law enforcement searched the area, with helicopters circling, K-9 units combing wooded terrain, and roadblocks established along U.S. Highway 72, South Broad Street, and County Park Road. These roads were temporarily closed but have since reopened. Local businesses, including CC’s Corner, Burrito Jalisco, Bruce’s Foodland, and High Country Toyota, delayed openings out of caution, while Scottsboro City Schools urged residents to avoid nearby schools for safety.

Scottsboro Police Lieutenant Coty Durham, speaking at a 10:30 p.m. press conference on Saturday, described the operation, noting that the search grid remained focused around the football stadium, Piggly Wiggly, Foodland, and County Park Taco Bell areas. “Within a very minimal timeframe, we rendered aid and set up a perimeter to try to contain the suspect,” Durham said, emphasizing the belief that McCarn had not traveled far from the crash site until the critical tip came in.

McCarn, who has no significant prior police record beyond two minor traffic violations in Jackson County (one in 2017 and another in 2022), was booked into the Jackson County Detention Center on felony charges, including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. Authorities have not yet released details on the motive behind the shooting or additional charges that may be filed.

Scottsboro Police Chief and city officials expressed gratitude for the public’s support and the coordinated efforts of multiple agencies. They praised the community’s vigilance, particularly the business owner whose tip led to McCarn’s capture. Officials also requested continued prayers for the injured officer, their family, and the entire law enforcement community.

Representative Dale Strong issued a statement on social media, saying, “I am saddened and troubled to learn of the Scottsboro Police Department officer who was shot and injured in the line of duty. My thoughts and prayers are with the officer, his loved ones, and the entire Scottsboro law enforcement community. Please join me in praying for the officer’s full and swift recovery.”

This incident underscores the daily risks law enforcement officers face in protecting their communities. As the investigation continues and legal proceedings begin, Scottsboro remains focused on healing—for the injured officer, the department, and a community shaken by violence but strengthened by unity.

Further updates, including court dates and additional booking details, are expected to be released in the coming days as the case progresses.