JOPLIN, Missouri — A Missouri police officer who fatally shot a 2-year-old girl during a 2022 hostage standoff has been identified and is now serving as a state highway patrol trooper.
Keaton Siebenaler, a former Joplin SWAT sniper, was publicly named after years of legal efforts to keep his identity confidential. He has since joined the Missouri State Highway Patrol and now patrols Vernon and Barton counties.
The shooting occurred during a standoff in Baxter Springs, Kansas, where a man had taken hostages and fired at law enforcement. Authorities said Siebenaler fired a single shot at what he believed was the suspect but instead struck the child, Clesslynn Crawford, who later died. The suspect subsequently died by suicide.
Investigations later found the officer fired at a silhouette inside the trailer, raising questions about target identification. External reviews cited potential mistakes in judgment, though a local prosecutor ultimately declined to file charges.
The city of Joplin and local authorities previously settled a lawsuit with the child’s family for $1.5 million.
Missouri State Highway Patrol officials said Siebenaler underwent a full background review and met all requirements for employment. Family members of the child have continued to raise concerns about accountability in the case.
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