KALISPELL — The man accused of shooting and killing 28-year-old Whisper Sellars outside of the Southfork Saloon in Martin City in August of 2022 has been found guilty of deliberate homicide.
Kila resident Del Crawford was charged with one count of deliberate homicide, one count of attempted deliberate homicide, one count of assault with a weapon, and one count of tampering with physical evidence.
Crawford’s sentencing is now set for September 19, 2024.
Charging documents state that the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls regarding a shooting at the Southfork Saloon in Martin City at 1 a.m. on Aug. 27, 2022.
Deputies arrived on scene and observed Doug Crosswhite on the road in front of the bar with a tourniquet around his arm and a seal on his chest wound.
Deputies also observed 28-year-old Whisper Sellars of Hungry Horse receiving CPR on the ground with a chest wound.
Sellars was pronounced dead at the scene while Crosswhite was transported to Logan Health for further medical treatment.
Witness Chelsea Bauska had been performing CPR on Whisper Sellars. Law enforcement conducted interviews on the scene with Bauska.
Bauska reported the incident began when Crawford saw some people trying to start a golf cart outside of the bar and the situation escalated, according to charging documents.
Bauska stated she tried to de-escalate the situation, but Crawford and Sellars got into an argument with pushing and shoving. Bauska stated Crawford fired his gun hitting Sellars and Crosswhite.
Deputies spoke with another witness, Bradley Crosswhite, who stated that Sellars and Alicia Crosswhite were sitting on the golf cart taking pictures when they were confronted by Crawford.
Bradley Crosswhite stated that Crawford, Sellars, and Alicia Crosswhite began to argue.
Bradley said Crawford pushed Sellars and Alicia Crosswhite. She said Doug Crosswhite pushed Crawford in response. Bradley said Crawford fell backward, got up, pulled a handgun from his waistline, and began shooting.
Charging documents state Crawford told the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office over the phone he had fired his weapon in self-defense. Crawford was found on South Fork Road and placed under arrest.
Charging documents state that Crawford refused to tell law enforcement where the firearm was located, saying “it was in a safe place and the officers would not find it.”
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