Sheriff identifies southwest Missouri deputies killed in traffic stop, shootout
The Christian County Sheriff’s Office identified the two deputies who were shot and killed, one in a traffic stop Monday afternoon, and the other in a shootout with the suspect hours later, in a solemn post on Facebook Tuesday afternoon.
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we mourn the loss of two of our own — Deputy Gabriel Ramirez and Deputy Michael Hislope — who gave their lives in the line of duty,” Sheriff Brad Cole wrote in the post.
Ramirez, 30, was relatively new to the department, joining the Christian County Sheriff’s Office on March 14, 2025.
“Though his time with us was brief, his commitment to serving others and protecting this community was clear from the very beginning,” Cole wrote.
Meanwhile, Hislope, 40, had more than six years with the sheriff’s office, joining in Oct. 28, 2019.
“He was a dedicated deputy, a trusted colleague, and a valued member of our sheriff’s office family,” Cole said.
“These men answered the call to serve, putting the safety of others before their own, including serving our nation in the U.S. Army,” Cole said. “Their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to Christian County will never be forgotten.”
Authorities say Richard Dean Bird, 45, fatally shot Ramirez during a traffic stop Monday afternoon near Highlandville, Missouri. Bird then drove away, leading into a manhunt that lasted for hours. His truck was found near a roundabout on U.S. 160 near Reeds Springs, Missouri.
As law enforcement officers moved in, gunfire erupted, killing Hislope and injuring two others — another Christian County deputy and a deputy from Webster County, according to media reports.
Bird also was killed in the shootout. Court records show that Bird has a lengthy criminal record in the Kansas City area, including firing shots at a Johnson County, Kansas, sheriff’s deputy investigating a theft at a construction site in September 2014. He was charged with attempted first-degree murder and theft, but Bird pleaded guilty to lesser charges and was sentenced to eight years in prison. His sentence expired in April 2023.
Cole asked the community to keep the deputies’ families, friends, and fellow deputies in their thoughts and prayers.
“On behalf of the entire Christian County Sheriff’s Office, we honor their service, their sacrifice, and their legacy,” Cole said.
The Star’s Laura Bauer provided some information for this story.
