Crime
1 person injured after shooting in bathroom at Joppatowne High School, 16-year-old suspect arrested
Authorities have confirmed that only one shot was fired.
A shooting incident occurred at Joppatowne High School involving two students. A 16-year-old student allegedly shot a 15-year-old classmate during a fight in the men’s restroom. The victim is in serious condition.
The suspect fled the school after the incident and was seen banging on neighbors’ doors, prompting multiple 911 calls. The Harford County Sheriff’s Office commended the community for their swift response in helping to apprehend the suspect.
According to the sheriff, the suspect was a new student at Joppatowne High School, having only started classes recently. While the sheriff couldn’t confirm whether the suspect had a juvenile criminal record, he stated that the individual was not unfamiliar to law enforcement.
There had been previous “calls for service” related to the suspect, but the sheriff declined to provide further details.
The sheriff expressed frustration with the Maryland Child Interrogation Protection Act, criticizing the law’s restrictions on questioning juvenile suspects. He described the current situation as “lunacy,” emphasizing the need for law enforcement to be able to interview suspects promptly.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
A Harford County Public Schools representative confirmed that an isolated incident occurred at Joppatowne High School on Friday.
According to first responders, one student sustained injuries, but the incident was not an active shooter situation.
Authorities have apprehended a person off campus, though the reasons for their arrest remain unclear.
The school is cooperating closely with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office as they investigate the incident.
Harford County Sheriff’s Office Statement Regarding Joppatowne High School Incident
“Joppatowne High School families, please be informed that the Harford County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the school today to address an isolated incident on campus. There was a physical altercation between known individuals, during which a weapon was brought onto the school grounds and used. We are currently investigating the matter.”
The Harford County Sheriff’s Office is advising the public that there is no active shooter situation at Joppatowne High School. The incident is isolated and contained. Please avoid the area.
A reunification center has been established at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church for parents to pick up their children.
Media staging for the Joppatowne High School incident will be at the Redner’s Market on Joppa Farm Road.
This is a developing story that will be updated when more information is available.
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.