A career criminal opened fire on law enforcement during a traffic stop, resulting in the deaths of two deputies in Missouri. Authorities also reported that the suspect was shot and killed during the incident.
Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole confirmed that Sheriff Gabriel Ramirez, 30, was shot and killed by Richard Byrd, 45, during a traffic stop near Highlandville on Monday afternoon. This was announced during a press conference the following day.
Numerous officers, FBI agents, federal marshals, and state troopers quickly mobilized to search for Byrd after they found Ramirez’s body in the roadway.
Within an hour, multiple agencies had responded to a location linked to Byrd, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol issued a Blue Alert. They quickly identified him and initiated an intensive manhunt.
Byrd’s abandoned truck was discovered several miles from the crime scene, prompting a search in the surrounding area.
Authorities eventually located Byrd after detecting heat signals in a wooded region. By 11:38 a.m., he began firing at the approaching officers.
Deputy Josh Wall sustained a severe gunshot wound to the leg, while Deputy Austin McCall was hit four times. Both deputies faced life-threatening injuries due to the violence, according to the sheriff.
Law enforcement struggled to reach the injured officers due to the ongoing gunfire from Byrd. During this chaotic moment, Deputy Michael Hislop, 40, was also shot and killed while efforts were underway to rescue others.
An armored vehicle was brought in to approach Byrd, who continued his attack until he was ultimately shot and killed.
Moments before this incident, Byrd had been served a warrant for second-degree robbery, marking yet another chapter in his long history of criminal activity. Just days prior, he had been charged with receiving stolen property.
Police reports indicated that Byrd was found in possession of stolen collectible coins valued at around $2,000. He also had documents that he planned to destroy.
Despite having a lengthy criminal history, which included a prior sentence for attempted murder, Byrd had recently been released from prison in 2023.
Deputy Ramirez joined the sheriff’s office in March 2024, while Deputy Hislop had been with the department since October 2019. Police remarked that even though Ramirez’s time with them was brief, his commitment was clear from the outset.
Deputy Hislop was acknowledged as a devoted officer and a valued member of the department. Police emphasized the courage and dedication displayed by both officers, who had also served the country in the military.
Meanwhile, Deputies Wall and McCall are recovering from their injuries and are reportedly in stable condition.
“It’s a really dark day when you lose two law enforcement officers within a span of 24 hours,” Sheriff Cole shared with the media.
