Missouri suspect taken into custody after deputy fatally shot, ending manhunt

A suspect was taken into custody on Tuesday in connection with the fatal shooting of a Missouri deputy, according to officials.

Richard Dean Bird, 45, was apprehended early Tuesday morning following the fatal shooting of a Christian County deputy that occurred shortly before 4 p.m. Monday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said on social media.

The incident triggered a manhunt for the suspect, who was considered to be armed and dangerous.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol described the suspect as a bald white man with brown eyes standing about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing approximately 145 pounds.

The suspect vehicle was earlier identified as a white 2001 Chevrolet Silverado extended cab pickup truck with Missouri license plate 9MGX36.

The truck was seen in the area of the shooting and was later reported traveling southbound on U.S. Route 160 from Route HH in Christian County. U.S. 160 runs south through southern Missouri and crosses into north-central Arkansas east of Harrison.

“Truck has been located,” the Stone County Sheriff’s Office, which assisted in the search, wrote Monday night on X.

Several lawmakers earlier reacted to the death of the deputy.

“A deputy in my home county was shot and killed today. Erin and I are praying for his family. May justice be swift,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said the incident was “a devastating loss in Christian County.”

“As local law enforcement works to bring the suspect to justice, my prayers are with the deputy’s loved ones and those who served shoulder to shoulder with him to keep Missouri safe,” Schmitt wrote on X.

Missouri State Rep. Jamie Ray Gragg said on Facebook: “My heart is broken for our deputy’s family. While they understood that this profession carries risk, senseless acts like this are beyond comprehension.”

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Blue Alerts like the one initially issued in this case, are similar to Amber Alerts in that they are designed to quickly notify the public. However, a Blue Alert is issued when a suspect is believed to have seriously injured or killed a law enforcement officer and may pose an ongoing threat.

“Blue Alert cancelled. Suspect in custody,” the Missouri State Highway Patrol said on X early Tuesday.

Fox News’ Stepheny Price contributed to this report.

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