According to KBI at approximately 7:15 p.m. Saturday night, Baxter Springs County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call in Baxter Springs due to an ongoing household disturbance. When police arrived at the scene, they knocked on the door of the house, which is described as a trailer camping. Eli Crawford, 37, of Baxter Springs, opened the door and then slammed it shut as soon as he saw police. Crawford’s 2-year-old daughter, Clesslynn Crawford, then reopened the door and 27-year-old Taylor Shutte of Webb City Missouri ran outside. Crawford then left the house and shot and killed Shutte. He also started firing at the four officers who were responding. Crawford continued firing on police as they retreated to a safe distance. Additional law enforcement support came from the office of the Cherokee County Sheriff and the SWAT team of the Joplin Police Department. KBI and the Kansas Highway Patrol also responded. During the incident, Crawford is believed to have used multiple weapons to fire more than 90 rounds from the trailer at law enforcement officers. At about 9:25 a.m., a law enforcement officer fired a round at the campsite trailer. Officers approached the home and found Crawford dead through a gunshot wound. Shutte and Clesslynn Crawford were also found dead from fatal gunshot wounds. No police officers were injured during the incident. KBI will conduct a thorough and independent investigation into this shooting. Once the findings are complete, they will be handed over to the Cherokee County Attorney for review.
