Two Christian County Deputies Killed; Suspect Also Killed
The suspect in the murder of a Christian County Deputy was killed in a shootout early this morning.
45-year-old Richard Dean Bird was the prime suspect in an incident that took place during a traffic stop around 4 p.m. Monday south of Highlandville, Mo., at State Highway 160 and Route HH, in Stone County.
He allegedly shot and killed the law enforcement officer, then fled the scene in a 2001 Chevy pickup. A statewide Blue Alert was then issued by the Patrol, followed by a series of updates.
The truck was later found abandoned.
A second Christian County Deputy was killed during a shootout in which Bird was killed by lawmen near a roundabout on Highway 160 north of Reeds Spring, when Bird was spotted. Officers from across the Ozarks had been searching for Bird since late Monday afternoon.
Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole (Ozark, Mo.) said two other deputies, one from Christian County, the other from Webster County, were also wounded. Their injuries were not believed to be life-threatening at this time.
According to Sheriff Cole, Bird ran into a wooded area, and after hours of searching, a Highway Patrol helicopter with a thermal camera, noticed a moving heat signature.
As deputies were moving in on him, Bird started shooting, and deputies returned fire, killing the suspect.
Sheriff Cole said about 100 law enforcement officers, deputies and state troopers assisted in the overnight manhunt, as well as US Marshals and agents with the FBI and ATF.
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