Kansas Dad Fires 90 Rounds During Hostage Standoff, Police Accidentally Kill His 2-Year-Old Daughter With Single Shot

According to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, 37-year-old Eli Crawford fired greater than 90 rounds at officers after capturing his spouse, 27-year-old Taylor Shutte, proper in entrance of them.

Over two hours after the stand-off started, an officer fired one shot in response, and fatally struck the suspect’s daughter, Clesslynn Crawford.

The incident occurred shortly after 7 PM on March 26 in Baxter Springs, when a girl referred to as 911 requesting assist throughout a home disturbance.

When officers arrived on the tenting trailer, they knocked on the door. Eli Crawford answered the door, however after seeing it was police, slammed it again shut.

His two-year-old daughter then re-opened it and her mom ran out. That’s when police say Crawford stepped exterior and shot her useless as she fled. He then opened hearth on the 4 responding officers.

The officers managed to retreat to a secure distance and take cowl, and didn’t return hearth, as Crawford continued to shoot at them. They mentioned he fired greater than 90 rounds utilizing a number of weapons.

The Baxter Springs PD officers radioed for back-up, which got here from (*90*) County Sheriff’s Office, and Joplin Police Department’s S.W.A.T. Team; the KBI and Kansas Highway Patrol additionally responded.

According to the KBI, which is investigating the incident, at roughly 9:25 PM — two hours and 10 minutes after the standoff started — a Joplin Police officer fired a single spherical into the residence.

When officers ultimately approached the house, they discovered three useless our bodies.

Shutte, mendacity simply exterior the camper, died from “a number of gunshots fired by Eli Crawford,” KBI mentioned.

“It is believed that Eli Crawford, 37, died of a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound. The investigation signifies that 2-year-old Clesslynn Crawford died because of the only spherical fired by an officer from the Joplin Police Department.”

No legislation enforcement officers have been injured throughout the shootout.

“The KBI will conduct an intensive and unbiased investigation into this capturing,” the KBI mentioned in its assertion Monday. “Once it concludes, the findings can be offered to the (*90*) County Attorney to find out if prison costs can be filed.”

“Autopsies are scheduled. The investigation is ongoing.”

In a press release to the Joplin Globe, Joplin PD Chief Sloan Rowland confirmed the KBI’s findings that the kid was killed by his SWAT group.

“This is a horrific consequence to what had already started as a really tragic incident,” he mentioned. “Our heartfelt condolences exit to the households concerned and the encompassing neighborhood. We ask that you simply pray for the victims and everybody concerned.”

The assertion didn’t handle why the officer took the shot.

Clesslynn was buried on Wednesday.

“Clesslynn was lively and had a really bubbly character. She was very loving and at all times joyful,” the kid’s obituary learn. “She was extraordinarily good for her age and beloved placing a smile on everybody’s face.”

“Clesslynn beloved Minnie Mouse, her binky, and by no means handed up an opportunity to bop. She would discuss to you for days and was the definition of ‘A BOSS BABY’. She at all times beloved to cuddle, and though little, she was very fierce. Clesslynn had the eyes of an angel and a smile that would heat anybody’s coronary heart. There was by no means a boring second round this candy lady.”

It will not be the primary tragedy to befall the household: in February of 2020, Clesslynn’s 8 and 6-year-old cousins Kynzee and Laynee Norris have been killed in a home hearth, that their older sister and grandfather managed to flee.

The injury was so dangerous, investigators have been by no means capable of decide a trigger, though a burning wooden range was suspected.