SAA event in United States of America on Mon 23rd February 2026

A suspect allegedly opened fire on Monday on law enforcement officers during a traffic stop in Missouri, killing one before escaping, the Stone County Sheriff’s Office said.The suspect, Richard Bird, 45, was later tracked to nearby woods, where he allegedly again opened fire on officers, killing another deputy and injuring two others, Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole said.After Bird’s first encounter with deputies on State Highway 160, he fled the scene and abandoned the pickup truck he was driving, officials said. The Missouri Highway Patrol issued a Blue Alert, releasing an image of the suspect's vehicle. A Missouri Highway Patrol helicopter later located a heat source in the woods, which was then identified as the suspect, Cole said. "The suspect, once deputies were close to him, immediately opened fire on the deputies," Cole told reporters during a press conference, "and three deputies were shot during that time. We have one deputy from Christian County who is deceased from this incident."Another two deputies -- one from Christian County and one from Webster County -- were shot and injured during the second altercation with Bird, he said. Their injuries were not expected to be life-threatening, he said. The suspect continued to fire rounds at deputies until he was shot and killed by law enforcement officers returning fire, Cole said.