A routine traffic stop in southwest Missouri spiraled into a massive, multi-agency manhunt that left two deputies dead, and the suspected gunman captured early Tuesday, officials said.
Richard Dean Bird, 45, was apprehended early Tuesday morning following the fatal shooting of a Christian County deputy that happened shortly before 4 p.m. Monday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said on social media.
Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole said the initial shooting happened during a traffic stop south of Highlandville, according to The Associated Press. Deputy Gabriel Ramirez was killed in that encounter.
The search for Bird drew roughly 100 officers, deputies and state troopers, along with U.S. Marshals and FBI and ATF agents, Cole said.
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Authorities had initially issued a Blue Alert for a white 2001 Chevrolet Silverado extended cab pickup truck bearing Missouri license plate 9MGX36.
The truck was seen in the area of the shooting and was later 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.
Early Tuesday morning, deputies approached what authorities described as a heat signature detected in the woods. Cole said Bird opened fire, striking three deputies.
“Truck has been located,” the Stone County Sheriff’s Office, which assisted in the search, wrote Monday night on X.
One Christian County deputy was killed in the exchange. Two other deputies, one from Christian County and one from Webster County, were wounded but suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening, Cole said.
“Deputy Ramirez was always kind to everybody,” Cole said. “He was always a friend, was always there for anybody who needed a shoulder to lean on.”
Ramirez had only recently joined the department. In a July 2025 Facebook post, the Christian County Sheriff’s Office announced that Deputy Ramirez, along with two others, had started their new patrol positions after graduating from the Drury Academy.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe called the shootings “a solemn reminder of the sacrifices law enforcement officers make to keep our communities safe,” adding that he and his wife are praying for the families of both fallen deputies and the injured officers.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine L. Hanaway said, “Two brave Christian County deputies were killed and two more were injured in the line of duty. We stand firmly behind the heroes who put their lives on the line to protect our state every day.”
Several other state leaders also shared reactions prior to Bird’s capture.
“A deputy in my home county was shot and killed today. Erin and I are praying for his family. May justice be swift,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said the incident was “a devastating loss in Christian County.”
“As local law enforcement works to bring the suspect to justice, my prayers are with the deputy’s loved ones and those who served shoulder to shoulder with him to keep Missouri safe,” Schmitt wrote on X.
Missouri State Rep. Jamie Ray Gragg said on Facebook: “My heart is broken for our deputy’s family. While they understood that this profession carries risk, senseless acts like this are beyond comprehension.”
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Blue Alerts like the one initially issued in this case, are similar to Amber Alerts in that they are designed to quickly notify the public. However, a Blue Alert is issued when a suspect is believed to have seriously injured or killed a law enforcement officer and may pose an ongoing threat.
“Blue Alert cancelled. Suspect in custody,” the Missouri State Highway Patrol said on X early Tuesday.
