On a late summer evening in Martin City, Montana, the life of Whisper Dawn Mari Sellars, a 28-year-old Native American woman, was tragically cut short. On August 27, 2022, outside the South Fork Saloon, an altercation escalated into fatal violence, leaving a family and community in mourning.
The events of that night began to unfold over a seemingly minor issue involving a golf cart. Sellars and another woman were taking pictures in a golf cart that a man named Del Orrin Crawford had driven to the bar from a nearby party. An argument ensued when Crawford confronted them. The situation quickly intensified, with pushing and shoving between Crawford, Sellars, and her husband, Doug Crosswhite. After being pushed to the ground by Crosswhite, Crawford allegedly got up, pulled out a handgun, and began shooting.
Whisper Dawn Mari Sellars was shot in the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene, despite witnesses attempting CPR.
Her husband, Doug Crosswhite, was also shot in the arm and chest but survived his injuries. The couple had five children together.
In the immediate aftermath, law enforcement was able to contact the suspect, 40-year-old Del Orrin Crawford, by phone. He claimed to have acted in self-defense and was instructed by officers to put his weapon down and walk back to the bar, where he was arrested. The firearm used in the shooting was not immediately recovered, with Crawford stating it was in a "safe place." Crawford was subsequently charged with deliberate homicide, attempted deliberate homicide, and evidence tampering. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. Following his arrest, Crawford was held on a $750,000 bail, which he later posted and was released with conditions that included GPS monitoring.
