LATE SATURDAY NIGHT CHEROKEE COUNTY SHERIFF GROVES UPDATES US ON THE EVENTS. AT THAT TIME THERE WAS NO MENTION OF AN OFFICER FIRING A WEAPON. IT WAS SUNDAY WHEN INFORMATION REVEALED “AN OFFICER” FIRED A WEAPON AND THEN THE INVESTIGATION TRANSITIONED TO BE CONDUCTED BY KBI.
JOPLIN, Mo. — The Joplin Police Dept state in a media release that Saturday evening Kansas authorities were facing an active threat and hostage situation with a barricaded subject inside a residence in Baxter Springs, Kan.
Capt Will Davis states they activated the Joplin Police SWAT to respond.
“After Joplin SWAT arrived on scene, the suspect continued firing at law enforcement officers. During the operation, a member of the Joplin SWAT team was involved in a shooting on scene. No officers were injured during the incident. Following the conclusion of the incident, the officer was placed on routine administrative leave per department policy.” — JPD
Three individuals died Saturday evening on the scene.
Cherokee County Sheriff David Groves say they responded to a call of Domestic Disturbance at 340 Wyandotte, Saturday at 7:15 p.m. “Upon the arrival of officers, the woman exited the home and a male suspect, identified as 37-year-old Eli Crawford, shot and killed 27-year-old Taylor Dawn Shutte.”
The male suspect then retreated back inside with their 2-year-old child, Cessie Crawford.
It was hours later after a barrage of gunfire from the male suspect, Joplin SWAT entered the residence to find the male suspect and the child both dead.
It is unclear when the Joplin officer fired a weapon, and if either of the deceased were struck.
It is routine protocol to perform autopsy during a death investigation in Kansas.
Capt Davis of Joplin PD states they are actively cooperating with the Baxter Springs Police Department, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, and the KBI (Kansas Bureau of Investigation).
The Joplin SWAT officer’s name is being withheld at this time.
This is a developing story, stay with Joplin News First on KOAM News Now as we continue to learn more.
