Two Missouri deputies were killed after a career criminal gunman opened fire on officers during a traffic stop, and again during a chaotic manhunt — where the suspect was also shot and killed, according to authorities.
Richard Bird, 45, fatally shot Deputy Gabriel Ramirez during a traffic stop south of Highlandville on Monday afternoon, Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole announced at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
Several officers, deputies, members of the FBI, US Marshals, and state troopers then rushed to search for the suspect after Ramirez, 30, was discovered dead lying on the roadway.
Less than an hour later, several agencies responded to an address in Galena, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol issued a blue alert and an intense manhunt for the gunman, who they quickly identified as Bird.
Bird’s truck was later found abandoned several miles south of the scene, and authorities searched the nearby area, police said.
The suspect was then located after cops detected a heat signature in a wooded area. By 11:38 a.m., Bird began incessantly shooting at officers, police said.
Deputy Josh Wahl suffered a “debilitating” shot to his leg, and Deputy Austin McCall suffered four gunshot wounds. Both experienced life-threatening injuries from the gunfire, according to the sheriff.
Law enforcement was unable to reach the wounded officers as Bird continued to fire a hail of bullets in the direction of authorities.
Deputy Michael Hislope, 40, then suffered a fatal gunshot wound as officers decided to move in and try to rescue the other wounded officers.
An armored vehicle was used to approach Bird, who continued to fire, and ultimately shot and killed the gunman.
Bird was served with a warrant earlier on Monday for second-degree burglary — less than a week after he was charged with receiving stolen property, according to the New York Times.
In the stolen property case, court records showed that cops found roughly $2,000 worth of collectible coins on Bird that had been reported swiped from a safe, per the outlet.
He was also found in possession of documents that he had attempted to burn, according to an arrest warrant obtained by the outlet.
Bird — who has a lengthy criminal history— posted $50,000 on Friday, the outlet reported.
He served roughly a decade in prison in Kansas for attempted murder and other crimes after shooting at a policeman, court records said. Bird was sprung from prison in 2023.
Deputy Ramirez joined the Christian County Sheriff’s Office in March 2024, and Deputy Hislope began serving with the office in October 2019, the department said in a Facebook post.
“Though his time with us was brief, his commitment to serving others and protecting this community was clear from the very beginning,” police said.
Deputy Hislope was a “dedicated deputy, a trusted colleague, and a valued member of our sheriff’s office family,” cops said.
“These men answered the call to serve, putting the safety of others before their own, including serving our nation in the U.S. Army. Their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to Christian County will never be forgotten.”
Wahl and McCall are both recovering from surgery and are now in stable condition, authorities said.
“Anytime that you lose two law enforcement officers in a 24-hour time period … it is a dark day,” Cole told reporters.
With Post wires
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