Christian County Mo: Manhunt Ends After Two Deputies Killed, Suspect Dead and Two Officers Wounded
A manhunt in christian county mo ended after two sheriff’s deputies were killed and a suspect was shot and killed; two other officers were wounded and are not believed to have life-threatening injuries. The case unfolded after a traffic stop and prompted a multi-agency response that stretched into a prolonged search.
Christian County Mo: Timeline from traffic stop to manhunt
The initial shooting began south of Highlandville around 4 p. m. local time on Monday during a traffic stop on State Highway 160 and Route HH. After the shooting, the suspect's vehicle was found abandoned, and officers from across the region began searching.
During the manhunt, gunfire occurred again early Tuesday morning near the roundabout on State Highway 160 close to Reeds Spring. Sheriff Brad Cole said the suspect, Richard Bird, ran into a wooded area. A Highway Patrol helicopter later noticed a moving heat signature; as deputies moved in, Bird began shooting and deputies returned fire.
Updated on: February 24, 2026 / 8: 52 AM ET.
The suspect and the vehicle
The suspect has been identified as Richard Bird, age 45. Authorities said Bird's truck had been found abandoned in the area of Stone County, near Christian County. An announcement stated Bird was in custody Monday night after a public alert in Stone County; the Stone County Sheriff's Office later confirmed the suspect was dead. Sheriff Brad Cole said Bird was shot and killed by law officers after opening fire as deputies approached.
The vehicle linked to the incident was described as a white 2001 Chevrolet Silverado extended cab pickup with Missouri license plate 9MGX36. It was further described as having a silver brush guard, a rusted roof, black body trim, tinted rear windows and a three-ball hitch. The truck was last reported traveling southbound on U. S. Route 160 from Route HH in Christian County; U. S. 160 runs south through southern Missouri and crosses into north-central Arkansas east of Harrison. No suspect description beyond Bird’s identification has been released. Officials urged anyone who sees the vehicle not to approach it and to call 911 immediately.
Casualties and injuries
Two deputies from the Christian County Sheriff's Office died from gunshot wounds. Officials identified the first deputy killed as Deputy Gabriel Ramirez, 30 years old. A second Christian County deputy was also killed; that deputy has not been identified in the available information. Two other deputies were wounded—one from Christian County and the other from Webster County—and their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The two wounded officers have not been publicly identified.
Manhunt response and agencies involved
Sheriff Brad Cole said roughly 100 officers, deputies and state troopers assisted in the manhunt. The operation included members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and involved federal law enforcement agents from the U. S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the FBI. A Highway Patrol helicopter played a key role by detecting the moving heat signature that led searchers to the suspect’s location.
Authorities issued a public alert out of Highlandville after the fatal shooting; the alert mechanism used is designed to notify the public when a suspect is believed to have seriously injured or killed a law enforcement officer and may pose an ongoing threat.
Local and state reactions
State leaders and local officials reacted to the killings. Missouri’s governor said he was in contact with Sheriff Brad Cole while the search was underway and urged people with information to help. U. S. senators from Missouri expressed prayers and called the shooting a devastating loss. A Missouri state representative described heartbreak for the deputy’s family, urged the community to pray for law enforcement working the case and expressed hope that the situation would end peacefully with no further bloodshed. Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader described the day as probably the worst in the history of the Christian County Sheriff's Office and said the wounded officers were expected to recover.
Details in this developing incident include multiple timelines and statements; some elements remain unclear in the provided context and may evolve as more information becomes available.
