Crime
13-Year-Old Arrested for Making Threat Against Moss Bluff Middle School
A 13-year-old student at Moss Bluff Middle School was arrested on Thursday, October 10th, after making threats of violence against the school.
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call at approximately 8:45 AM regarding the threat.
During the investigation, it was determined that the suspect had made statements indicating their intent to “be the next school shooter.”
Detectives identified the suspect and, after further investigation, confirmed that the individual had indeed made the threatening statements.
The juvenile was taken into custody and booked into the Juvenile Detention Center on charges of terrorizing.
Detective William Vaughan of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into this incident.
The Calcasieu Parish School Board provided assistance to law enforcement during the investigation.
It is important to note that an arrest is merely an indication that probable cause exists to believe the suspect was involved in the alleged offense.
The individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Crime
2 Christian County deputies killed in the line of duty, suspect Richard Bird also dead
The name of the second deputy has not yet been publicly released pending family notification.
Christian County, Mo. — A massive multi-agency manhunt in Christian County has ended with the suspect dead, but not before claiming the lives of two sheriff’s deputies and injuring two others.
According to Brad Cole, the suspect, Richard Bird, was shot and killed by law enforcement officers early Tuesday morning near the roundabout on State Highway 160 close to Reeds Spring.
Authorities confirmed that two deputies with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office were killed in the line of duty during the operation.
One of the fallen deputies has been identified as 30-year-old Deputy Gabriel Ramirez.
The name of the second deputy has not yet been publicly released pending family notification.
In addition to the two fatalities, one Christian County deputy and one deputy from the Webster County Sheriff’s Office were wounded during the exchange of gunfire.
Sheriff Cole stated that their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
The violence began around 4:00 p.m. Monday when a Christian County deputy conducted a traffic stop near the intersection of State Highway 160 and Route HH, south of Highlandville.
During that stop, Deputy Ramirez was fatally shot, prompting a Blue Alert and a large-scale manhunt for Bird.
After Bird’s vehicle was located abandoned, officers from across the Ozarks converged on the area. Sheriff Cole said approximately 100 officers, deputies, and state troopers participated in the search effort, along with federal partners including the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, and the ATF.
The search continued for hours into the early morning. A helicopter operated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol detected a moving heat signature in a wooded area near Reeds Spring. As deputies approached the location, Bird reportedly opened fire. Law enforcement officers returned fire, fatally striking the suspect and ending the threat.
While the suspect was neutralized, the outcome has left the community in mourning. Two deputies lost their lives in the line of duty, and two others were injured.
Sheriff Cole described the loss as devastating for the department and the broader community. Families of the fallen deputies are now grieving, and colleagues across multiple agencies are reflecting on the risks law enforcement officers face daily.
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing as authorities continue to process the scene and review the circumstances surrounding the shootings.