SHARPSBURG, GA – A man wanted for the murder of his estranged wife was killed on Wednesday during a confrontation with law enforcement. The incident capped off a manhunt that began after the woman was found dead in the couple’s home the day before. This latest development has shaken the small community in Coweta County.

Officials reported that they were dispatched to a residence on Tuesday evening where they discovered Vennessa Phillips had been shot and killed. The suspect, identified as her husband, Dustin Phillips, was missing from the scene. A search was initiated, with the sheriff’s office labeling Dustin Phillips as a suspect in a felony murder and warning that he was potentially armed and dangerous.

As authorities conducted a widespread search on Wednesday, new reports directed them back to the original residence. It became the setting of a fatal exchange when Dustin was located and reportedly opened fire on officers. The deputies, defending themselves, returned fire, resulting in Dustin Phillips’ death, according to the sheriff’s office.

The tragedy unveiled the couple’s troubled history, marred by allegations of domestic abuse and violence. It is believed that Dustin fatally shot Vennessa in front of one of their children, a four-year-old daughter. The couple had five children together, who now grapple with the aftermath of these events.

Jeyson Brooks, Vennessa’s brother, painted a grim portrait of their relationship to local media. He described an enduring cycle of abuse and failed promises that ultimately led his sister into a difficult life. Brooks shared that despite multiple police calls, Dustin had a pattern of evading capture by hiding in nearby woods.

After a prolonged period of struggle, Brooks said he had persuaded his sister to relocate to Georgia to be closer to her family. Unfortunately, just a year after the move, her life was brutally taken. Brooks now remembers his sister as someone with a hopeful heart, unwilling to give up on her husband despite their fraught relationship.

Authorities have not yet released further details about the encounter between Dustin Phillips and the officers, nor the investigation into Vennessa’s death. The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office continues to lead the case, which remains under review.