A suspect allegedly opened fire on Monday on law enforcement officers during a traffic stop in Missouri, killing one before escaping, authorities said.
The suspect, Richard Bird, 45, was later tracked to nearby woods, where he allegedly again opened fire on officers, killing another deputy and injuring two others, Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole said.
Bird was killed in the second gunfight with law enforcement officers, authorities said
On Tuesday, the two fallen deputies were identified by Cole as Gabriel Ramirez, 30, and Deputy Michael Hislope, 40.
Cole said both deputies had served in the U.S. Army before joining the sheriff’s office. Hislope had been a member of the sheriff’s office since October 2019, while Ramirez joined the agency in March 2025, Cole said.
