Crime
30-year-old Brandon Holland killed after shooting in Callaway, suspect Antonio Payne in custody
Callaway, Virginia – In the early hours of Saturday, December 7, 2024, Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a reported shooting at a residence on Moe Lane.
The incident, which occurred around 4:30 a.m., has left one man dead and another in custody.
Upon arriving at the scene, deputies discovered the lifeless body of 30-year-old Brandon A. Holland, a resident of Callaway.
Holland had succumbed to an apparent gunshot wound.
Following a swift investigation, authorities identified Antonio Maurice Payne, 37, of Lebanon, Virginia, as the suspect in the shooting.
Payne was taken into custody later that morning in Montgomery County. He faces charges of Second-Degree Murder and Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation. Law enforcement has not released details about the events leading up to the incident or the relationship, if any, between Payne and Holland.
Officials are actively working to gather evidence and interview witnesses.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office expressed its condolences to the family and friends of Brandon Holland during this tragic time.
Further updates will be provided as new information becomes available. Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
If you have any details that might aid the investigation, please call the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 540-483-3000. Anonymous tips are welcome.
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.