Blue Alert Turns Deadly: Two Missouri Deputies Killed in 12-Hour Manhunt
A routine traffic stop has turned into one of the deadliest days for law enforcement in southwest Missouri and the shock is still rippling across the region tonight.
Authorities say it began near Highlandville, Missouri, when a Christian County deputy pulled over a pickup truck on State Highway 160. During that stop, investigators say 45-year-old Richard Dean Bird opened fire, killing Deputy Gabriel Ramirez, a 30-year-old officer who had joined the Christian County Sheriff’s Office less than a year ago. What followed was a massive manhunt and the activation of a Blue Alert, a system designed to warn the public when a suspect accused of seriously injuring or killing a law enforcement officer is on the run.
For hours, more than 100 officers from multiple agencies searched wooded areas across Christian and Stone counties. Bird’s abandoned truck was eventually found near Reeds Spring. Deputies, state troopers and federal partners, including the FBI and U.S. Marshals, closed in. A Highway Patrol helicopter detected movement in a wooded area. As officers approached, gunfire erupted again.
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In that exchange, a second Christian County deputy, Deputy Michael Hislope, a 40-year-old veteran who had served since 2019, was shot and killed. Two other deputies, one from Christian County and one from Webster County, were wounded but are expected to survive. Bird was shot and killed at the scene.
Sheriff Brad Cole described it as a long and heartbreaking day and the grief is visible across the community. Flags are lowered. Patrol cars line up in silent tribute. Fellow officers speak of courage, sacrifice and the heavy reality of a job that can turn deadly in seconds.
Investigators say Bird had a prior criminal history, including past violent offenses. Records show previous encounters with law enforcement in both Missouri and Kansas. Now, questions are being asked about whether warning signs were missed and whether more could have been done to prevent this escalation.
This tragedy matters beyond one county. It highlights the dangers officers face during even the most routine stops and it underscores the role of Blue Alerts in mobilizing resources and warning the public when a suspect is considered armed and extremely dangerous.
Two families are grieving tonight. Two departments are mourning. And a community is trying to process how a traffic stop became a 12-hour manhunt ending in more loss.
We will continue to follow this developing story closely, bring you confirmed updates as they come in and examine the broader implications for officer safety and public security. Stay with us for continuing coverage.
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