I think Ricky was kind of a teasing poke at the player. The developers were showing us what a worthless chump the Courier would be without the main character powers granted to him by the narrative.
I was sad that Stella and Jed could not be saved, though. Luckily, I realized it was all scripted when I obliterated every White Leg present and turned around to find the whole party mutilated despite the fact that I was the only one being shot at.