Trial set to start next week in shooting that happened two years ago

By CHRIS PETERSON

Hungry Horse News

The trial of a man accused of shooting and killing a woman outside a Martin City bar and wounding her husband is expected to start July 22 in Flathead County District Court.

Del Orrin Crawford, 42, of Kila is accused of shooting and killing Whisper Sellars on Aug. 27 and shooting and wounding her husband, Doug Crosswhite after an altercation in front of the South Fork Saloon.

Prosecutors allege Crawford pulled a gun and opened fire after getting shoved to the ground during the confrontation. Witnesses at the scene told responding Flathead County Sheriff’s Office deputies that Sellars, was on a golf cart parked outside of a Martin City bar about 1 a.m., according to court documents.

Those witnesses told authorities they saw Crawford confront Sellars and the two allegedly got into an argument, escalating to pushing and shoving. One witness said Crawford approached the golf cart after seeing “some people try to start” the vehicle, according to court documents. The witness said they unsuccessfully tried to deescalate the disagreement.

Sellars’ husband, Doug Crosswhite, intervened and pushed Crawford to the ground, according to court documents. Crawford, after picking himself up, pulled a handgun from his waistline and opened fire, court documents said.

When deputies arrived, they found Sellars unconscious and not breathing, suffering a gunshot wound to the chest. Authorities pronounced her dead at the scene.

Crosswhite, meanwhile, suffered gunshot wounds to his arm and chest. He survived.

Crawford has been out on bail and also faces assault charges in the case and a tampering charge for allegedly hiding the gun after the shooting. He apparently fled the scene after the incident.

The trial is in front of District Court Judge Dan Wilson.