Crime
1 injured in shooting outside McDonald’s in Meridian
A shooting took place in the parking lot of the McDonald’s on Bonita Drive in Meridian, Mississippi, with reports indicating that one person may have been injured in the incident.
Local law enforcement responded to calls of gunfire shortly after the shooting occurred, arriving at the McDonald’s location to secure the area and assess the situation.
Upon arrival, officers discovered evidence suggesting that a shooting had taken place in the parking lot and found one individual who appeared to have sustained injuries from the gunfire.
Emergency medical teams were quickly dispatched to the scene to provide immediate care to the injured person and transport them to a nearby hospital for further medical attention.
As the investigation unfolded, police cordoned off the parking lot and began gathering information from witnesses who were present at the time of the incident.
Authorities are also reviewing surveillance footage from the McDonald’s and surrounding businesses in an effort to identify any suspects involved and to understand the circumstances leading up to the shooting.
No details have been released yet about the victim’s condition, and police have not disclosed any information regarding potential suspects or motives.
The McDonald’s location has temporarily closed as investigators continue their work, and law enforcement officials are urging anyone with information about the shooting to come forward to assist in the ongoing investigation.
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.