Crossley was slated to begin his murder trial on Monday before pleading guilty in the June 17, 2018, death of 35-year-old Jahream Beard.
Police were called to the Wagon Wheel on South Burnett Road in June 2018 on reports of shots fired. Officers said when they arrived they found a woman administering CPR to Beard, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other people also were shot but suffered injuries that weren’t life-threatening.
“The Springfield Police Division did a good job of putting this case together,” Driscoll said. “There was a large number of people on the scene at the time of this incident but by the time police got there, only one person was there.”
Read the original story: Springfield police seek public’s help in deadly shooting outside Wagon Wheel bar
Driscoll said the Crossley’s case stresses the importance of witness cooperating with law enforcement.
“This could have had a very different outcome had no one cooperated,” Driscoll said. “I’m happy we were able to get the plea and bring some closure to the family. I’m certain this isn’t everything they hoped it would be, but we are certainly pleased we got to this point.”
Crossley is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 31. He will be held in the Clark County Jail without bond until his sentencing.
Involuntary manslaughter with a gun is a first-degree felony and holds a sentence of between 11 and 16½ years, with an additional three years specification because the crime was gun-specific, Driscoll said.
His attorney Jon Paul Rion was not available for comment Friday afternoon.
Read more: Court date set for Springfield man charged in bar homicide
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