Parkville Homicide

By Jenny Johnston

Parkville experienced it’s first homicide in more than 15 years July 30. Seventeen-year-old Spencer J. Crosthwait was murdered around 1 a.m. July 30 at the intersection of Highway 9 and Highway 45, just minutes away from Park University. Crosthwait was driving his black Ford Thunderbird with a friend when someone from another car pulled alongside and fired a shot hitting him in the chest.
    The passenger in Crosthwait’s car managed to drive the vehicle to Price Chopper to call for help. Crosthwait died after emergency crews tried to perform CPR for more than 15 minutes.
    Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd charged Stephen L. Ellis, 19, and Justin L. Dougan, 19, with second-degree murder. A third person in the car is also in custody. Ellis, who was allegedly driving the car, was also charged with unlawful use of a weapon. Dougan, the alleged gunman, faces charges of armed criminal action. Both will face life in prison if convicted.
    According to authorities, the cause of the incident was a dispute over a girl involving Dougan and Crosthwait’s passenger who, they say, was the intended target.
    "There are other avenues that young people can take to resolve issues, and I wish in this case other methods would have been chosen," said Parkville Police Chief Kevin Chrisman.
    Crosthwait would have been a senior at Park Hill High School this fall.