Two Missouri Deputies Fatally Shot, Two Wounded in Christian County Incident; Suspect Also Killed

Tragedy Strikes Christian County Law Enforcement

Two sheriff's deputies in Christian County, Missouri, were fatally shot on Monday, February 24, 2026, and two other deputies sustained non-life-threatening injuries during a series of events that began with a traffic stop. Authorities confirmed that the suspect, Richard Dean Bird, was also killed in a subsequent exchange of gunfire. The incident prompted a large-scale law enforcement response in southwest Missouri.

Initial Traffic Stop Leads to Deputy's Death

The tragic sequence of events commenced just before 4 p.m. on Monday when Deputy Gabriel Ramirez, 30, initiated a traffic stop south of Highlandville. During this stop, Deputy Ramirez was fatally shot. Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole stated that Deputy Ramirez was found dead in the roadway.

Following the initial shooting, the suspect fled the scene, triggering an extensive manhunt involving approximately 100 officers, deputies, and state troopers. Federal agencies, including the U.S. Marshals, FBI, and ATF, also joined the search.

Manhunt Culminates in Second Deadly Confrontation

The search for the suspect continued for hours. The suspect's truck was later discovered abandoned several miles south near Reeds Spring. Early Tuesday, after a heat signature was detected in the woods by a highway patrol helicopter, deputies moved in on the location.

Upon approach, the suspect, identified as Richard Dean Bird, opened fire, striking three deputies. During this confrontation, Christian County Deputy Michael Hislope, 40, was killed while attempting to assist the wounded officers. Christian County Deputy Josh Wahl was struck in the leg, and Webster County Deputy Austin McCall sustained four gunshot wounds. Law enforcement officers on the scene returned fire, killing Bird.

Official Response and Community Impact

Sheriff Brad Cole praised the fallen deputies, stating, 'We will be honoring them for a lifetime.' He noted that the gunfire during the second confrontation lasted for more than 30 minutes, with law enforcement ultimately using an armored vehicle to approach Bird as he continued to fire.

Deputies Wahl and McCall were transported to a hospital, where they underwent surgery and are currently recovering in stable condition. Bird reportedly had a long criminal history, including a conviction for shooting at Kansas law enforcement more than a decade prior.