Springfield man accused in fatal bar shooting arrested for having loaded gun in car

A Springfield man accused of murder is now facing more charges after he was arrested over the weekend for having a loaded handgun in the glove box of his car.

Gabriel Crossley, 31, was out of jail on bond for the murder charge when he was stopped Friday night by a Springfield police officer for having a window that was illegally tinted, according to documents filed in Clark County Municipal Court.

Officers also found marijuana, cocaine and a loaded handgun in the glove box of the car that Crossley was driving, documents stated.

LATEST CRIME: Springfield man who killed pregnant woman denied appeal

“He said people were out to get him, so he carried it,” Springfield police Lt. Lou Turner said. “He said he had this handgun with him for protection.”

Crossley was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and improperly handling a firearm in a motor vehicle; he also faces drug charges. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and a new bond was set for him at $5,000.

Crossley already has an open murder case, and it’s not clear how these new charges will affect it.

Police and prosecutors say that Crossley fired into a crowd of people in June 2018 at the Wagon Wheel bar in Springfield.

Jahream Beard, 35, died as a result of the shooting, and two other people suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Crossley is not charged in relation to the two other victims.

Prosecutors previously said that Beard and Crossley knew each other.

ICYMI: Fire in vacant house in Springfield deemed suspicious

A court document filed by Clark County Assistant Prosecutor Brian Driscoll says that after the shooting, Crossley “removed the gun and discarded it,” which hurt its usability as evidence in the case.

Crossley was arrested in April when he was picked up by the U.S. Marshal Service in coordination with Springfield police.

His murder case originally was scheduled to head to trial on Tuesday, but that date has been pushed back, according to online records.

Crossley’s defense attorney, Jon Paul Rion asked the court to move the date because “counsel for defendant must attend to personal matters.”

It is the second time a trial date in the case has been continued.

Crossley was not listed in custody at the Clark County Jail as of Monday evening.

About the Author