Crime
Kaden Woodring charged with murder in shooting death of Greater Johnstown High School student Syrina Raneri
Kaden allegedly pointed the rifle at her and asked, “you know I’m playin’?,” before pulling the trigger.
Authorities in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, have released further information regarding a tragic overnight shooting that claimed the life of 17-year-old Syrina Raneri, a student at Greater Johnstown High School.
According to the Johnstown Police Department, the incident occurred late Sunday night at a residence on Sheridan Street.
Officers responded just before midnight to reports of a shooting and discovered Raneri in the basement with gunshot wounds to her upper chest and right arm. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators have charged 17-year-old Kaden Woodring with criminal homicide and aggravated assault in connection with the shooting.
According to the affidavit, witnesses reported that Woodring pointed a hunting-style rifle at Raneri and pulled the trigger. The weapon, reportedly stolen, had been brought to Woodring weeks earlier by another juvenile.
Woodring told police that Raneri was at the residence to pick up two individuals who had been socializing there. He admitted to pointing the rifle at her, asking, “You know I’m playin’?” before discharging the weapon.
After the shooting, Woodring allegedly informed a family member about the incident, briefly spoke with a 911 operator, and then fled the scene. He was later apprehended after making phone contact with law enforcement.
Authorities noted that the rifle involved in the shooting and any shell casings were missing from the scene. Police believe another juvenile removed the weapon from the residence. Efforts are ongoing to locate the firearm and piece together additional details about its origin.
Woodring is currently being held at Cambria County Prison without bail.
An autopsy on Raneri is scheduled for Tuesday to confirm the exact cause of death.
The death of Syrina Raneri has sent shockwaves through the Greater Johnstown High School community, where she was a student. Grief counselors are being made available to help students and staff process the tragedy.
Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and are urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
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.