Background: The Planeview, Kan. neighborhood where Davion Gunter was killed (Google Maps). Inset (left): Tasha Dillard (Sedgwick County Jail). Inset (right): Davion Gunter (GoFundMe).
Tasha Dillard, 25, admitted guilt to charges of involuntary manslaughter and six counts of aggravated child endangerment. The plea came in September, following her arrest related to the March 15 shooting in Planeview. According to information from local ABC affiliate KAKE, Dillard was among several adults gathered at an apartment complex, where they were drinking tequila shots in her car while seven children were left to play unsupervised inside her apartment.
Only ten minutes into their playtime, one of the children ran out to alert the adults of the dire situation inside.
The young child urged the adults to “Take him to the hospital,” prompting one woman to rush into the apartment. There, she discovered Davion with a gunshot wound to the chest. She quickly carried him outside and stayed with him until emergency personnel arrived.
This same woman later informed police that she was aware Dillard had purchased a firearm a few weeks prior to the incident.
The same woman later told police that she knew Dillard had bought a gun weeks earlier.
According to court documents, Dillard was “adamant she did not own any firearms and did not have any guns in the house.” She later stated that she did have a gun, but left it on the counter behind her purse where it was not easily visible. The gun was left on the counter after Dillard said one of her friends took a video of herself with it to “look cute” for a Snapchat photo.
Davion was taken to the hospital where he died from his injuries. Court documents revealed that a 4-year-old child had gotten hold of the gun and shot Davion in the chest. His death was ruled a homicide.
Dillard was initially charged with first-degree murder before pleading guilty in September to involuntary manslaughter and six counts of aggravated child endangerment.
On Thursday, Dillard was sentenced to 37 months in prison, or three years and one month, plus an additional two years of post-release supervision. Dillard’s attorneys had requested a lower sentence than the minimum, and the judge agreed.
