Clesslynn "Clessie" Crawford
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CANDID ID: KS_22_2101
AGE
2   years
STATE
Kansas
DATE OF DEATH
3/26/2022
DEATH RECORDS
Not Available
STATE REPORTS
Not Available
SUMMARY OF DEATH
On the evening of March 26, 2022, in Baxter Springs, Kansas, two-year-old Clesslynn Crawford's mother, Taylor Shutte, called police for help during a domestic dispute with the child's father, Eli Crawford. When police arrived, Crawford shot and killed Shutte as she exited the family's small camper trailer, then barricaded himself inside with Clesslynn. Crawford fired nearly 100 rounds at responding officers over the next several hours. A Joplin, Missouri SWAT team was called in, and a sniper was given authorization to shoot Crawford on sight. At 9:25 p.m., operating in darkness without his night vision scope and without a spotter, the sniper fired one round through a camper window at what he believed was Crawford's torso silhouette. The bullet instead struck two-year-old Clesslynn in the head, entering through her left eye and killing her. Crawford, who was on the phone with negotiators, said "you just shot my kid in the head through the window" before shooting himself. The Cherokee County Attorney declined to prosecute the sniper, and the family settled a civil lawsuit against the City of Joplin and Cherokee County for $1.5 million.
Contexts/Conditions

Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?

Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?

Is there any mention of a firearm incident?

The child was killed by a gunshot from a police sniper's rifle. The KCUR article states: "At 9:25 p.m., Sniper 1 fired one round through the camper window... Instead, he shot two-year-old Clessie in the head." The AP article also states that Crawford "was found dead inside a Kansas home with their slain toddler after exchanging gunfire with law enforcement."

Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?

Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)

The KCUR article reports the child was killed by a gunshot from a police sniper: "Two hours later that child, two-year-old Clesslynn Crawford, was also dead: Shot through the head by a police sniper." Her autopsy documented "a gunshot wound entrance in the left eye."

Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?

Is there any mention of medical neglect?

Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?

Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?

The incident involved a murder-suicide by Eli Crawford. He shot and killed Taylor Shutte ("Crawford shot her in the head"), and later killed himself: "Crawford died from a 'contact gunshot wound of the head,' according to his autopsy." During the standoff, Crawford also explicitly threatened murder-suicide, telling his best friend he would "kill Clessie and then himself."

Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?

Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?

Is there any mention of sexual abuse?

Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?

Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?

Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?

Individuals Involved

Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?

Was a biological father involved in the death?

Eli Crawford was the child's biological father. The AP article refers to the child as "their 2-year-old child, Clesslyn Crawford," and the KCUR article says Clesslynn was "the daughter Shutte had with Crawford." Crawford's actions directly precipitated the child's death: he murdered the child's mother, barricaded himself with the child, fired at police for hours, and created the hostage situation during which the sniper shot the child. He also threatened to kill Clessie during the standoff.

Was a biological mother involved in the death?

Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?

Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?

Was a foster parent involved in the death?

Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?

Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)

Was a sibling involved in the death?

Child Characteristics

Was the child adopted?

Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?

Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?

Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?

Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)

Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)

Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?

Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?

Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?

Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?

Parent/Caregiver Factors

Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?

Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?

The KCUR article describes the relationship between the child's parents as troubled, with frequent conflicts: "Verbal fights were common between Shutte, 27, and Eli Crawford, 38. They weren't married but shared a daughter and a troubled relationship." The aunt also described it as a "tempestuous relationship." On the night in question, Shutte called police and "whispered she needed help," and Crawford ultimately shot Shutte in the head, the most extreme act of domestic violence.

Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?

The KCUR article describes the family's residence as "a small camper" and "camper trailer." The AP article refers to it as a "home," but the KCUR investigative report based on KBI investigation documents consistently identifies it as a camper/camper trailer. Living in a camper may be considered a form of non-traditional or temporary housing.

Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?

The KCUR article documents Eli Crawford's suicidal behavior during the standoff. He told police negotiators that once his sister got Clessie, "then he would kill himself." He also "threatened to kill Clessie and then himself." Crawford ultimately died from "a contact gunshot wound of the head" — suicide. These explicit suicidal threats and actions reference the father's mental state.

Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?

Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?

Notable Details

The KCUR investigative article reveals several significant policy failures and systemic issues. Sniper 1 was given a "shoot on sight" directive by his commander, which the author of the FBI sniper manual called a violation of "every legal standard, and every policy, training and practical understanding of justifiable, and thus permissible, use of deadly force." Sniper 1 removed his night vision scope despite operating in the dark, was working without an observer partner, fired at a silhouette he could not properly identify, and did not use his rangefinder. The Joplin PD's own training curriculum warns that "darkness may obscure the officer's vision and adversely affect accuracy," and requires snipers to "be able to see clearly enough to identify the threat" before firing through a barrier. SWAT radios periodically cut out during the incident, and negotiators had relayed that "the child would be close to Eli Crawford." Despite these failures, Cherokee County Attorney Nathan Coleman declined to prosecute Sniper 1, then immediately resigned. His replacement approved the decision without clear evidence of a full review. The family settled a lawsuit against the City of Joplin and Cherokee County for $1.5 million. Sniper 1's identity remains protected through litigation, and he continues to serve as a Joplin police officer.

Lives Cut Short