Missouri: Two Deputies Killed as Cop-Killer Suspect Dies in Overnight Shootout
A massive manhunt ended in a deadly shootout late Monday after suspect Richard Dean Bird allegedly killed two deputies and wounded two others.
A suspect wanted for murdering a Christian County sheriff’s deputy earlier Monday opened fire on law enforcement officers late last night near Reeds Spring, killing a second deputy and wounding two more before he was shot and killed by police.
Timeline:
~3:50–4:00 p.m. CST, Monday Feb 23: Richard Dean Bird, 45, allegedly shot and killed Christian County Sheriff’s Deputy Gabriel Ramirez, 30, during a traffic stop on Highway 160 near Highlandville. Bird fled south in a white 2001 Chevrolet Silverado pickup.
Evening: Bird abandoned the truck north of Reeds Spring (Stone County) and fled into the woods armed with a long rifle. A large-scale manhunt involving over 100 officers, drones, and aircraft was launched.
~11:30 p.m. CST Monday: Officers surrounded Bird in a wooded area. He opened fire, triggering a gun battle that lasted roughly one hour.
One additional deputy was killed (name not yet released pending family notification). Two other officers were shot and hospitalized (one reported in critical condition). Bird was fatally shot by law enforcement.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol canceled the statewide Blue Alert shortly after midnight.This is the second law-enforcement fatality in southwest Missouri in a single evening.
The investigation is ongoing. No further details on the second deputy’s identity have been released.