Protesters demand release of “Sniper One” identity in Clesslynn Crawford case
JOPLIN, Mo. — A little more than two years have passed since Clesslynn Crawford was killed during a shootout between her father and the police.
Today, family and community members held a demonstration, in hopes others would join in on the battle to get the name of the officer who shot her.
“When I found out about it, I was outraged,” said Austin Hagston, protest organizer.
Joplin resident Austin Hagston first heard about the Clesslynn Crawford case from a radio program last month around the anniversary of her death.
“Being that it’s been two years and I had heard nothing about it, it was just terrible to me,” said Hagston.
He organized this protest for two-year-old, who died during a hostage situation in Baxter Springs in March 2022.
More details emerge in Baxter Springs shooting
Clesslynn’s father, Eli Crawford, killed her mother, Taylor Shutte, in front of officers and then proceeded to fire hundreds of rounds at police officers.
Officials say after Clesslynn was shot in the head, Crawford then killed himself, ending the hours-long standoff.
The investigation revealed a JPD officer — who has only been referred to as “Sniper One” — fired the fatal shot.
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“The officer who’s been unnamed fired the fatal shot at 9:35 on March 26, 2022,” said Hagston.
Hagston, along with several others, want “Sniper One’s” identity revealed.
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The officer filed a lawsuit to keep his name out of all the reports in the case.
“There’s no accountability being held for this loss,” said Hagston.
The group says it would be “justice for Clesslynn.”
“You can’t sweep something like this under the rug. You can’t take a child away from a family and then pretend like it never happened,” said Hagston.
The protest eventually moved to 7th and Range Line, but organizers hope to hold another demonstration to draw more attention to the case.
“This event, it happened in my own backyard. I have a daughter who’s the same age practically, and it’s just… I couldn’t sit this one out, you know, I had to stand up for this one,” said Hagston.
Joplin police issued a statement on the protest saying, “We respect everyone’s right to peacefully protest as long as they maintain and adhere to pedestrian and traffic laws so as not to impede the transit of pedestrians and motorists not involved in their exercise of free speech.”
