Crime
43-year-old Greg Baughman dead after shooting in Aiken, wife charged with murder
The Aiken County Coroner’s Office has released the identity of the victim in a deadly shooting that occurred on Sunday evening.
Authorities responded to a report of a shooting in the 1000 block of Prides Crossing at approximately 5:09 p.m.
Upon arrival, first responders discovered 43-year-old Greg Baughman suffering from at least one gunshot wound.
Baughman was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:30 p.m., according to the coroner’s office.
Law enforcement has confirmed that the victim’s wife, Dr. Jennifer Ray, was the individual who fatally shot him. She has been arrested and charged with murder.
The couple jointly owned the Hitchcock Animal Hospital, located on Summerwood Way in Aiken.
An autopsy is scheduled to take place in Newberry, South Carolina as part of the ongoing investigation.
Witnesses reported seeing a significant law enforcement presence, with at least seven police vehicles and crime scene tape marking off the area by 6:28 p.m.
The investigation is ongoing, with the Aiken County Coroner’s Office working alongside the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office to uncover the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact local authorities.
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.