Law Enforcement Shootings

Richard Dean Bird, 45, opened fire during a traffic stop south of Highlandville around 4 p.m., killing two Christian County sheriff’s deputies (one identified as 30‑year‑old Gabriel Ramirez) and wounding two others; roughly 100 officers from multiple agencies pursued him after his truck was spotted and a statewide Blue Alert was issued. Bird was found hiding in woods, was spotted by a Highway Patrol helicopter, opened fire on approaching deputies, and was killed when officers returned fire; the two wounded officers are expected to recover. Police say Bird was a convicted repeat offender with a lengthy violent record, had been arrested Feb. 20 in Stone County on burglary, unlawful firearm possession and theft charges, posted a $50,000 bond days before the shootings, and had prior Kansas charges stemming from a 2014 incident in which he fired at a deputy.