Background: The Planeview, Kan. neighborhood where Davion Gunter was killed (Google Maps). Inset (left): Tasha Dillard (Sedgwick County Jail). Inset (right): Davion Gunter (GoFundMe).
A Kansas woman who was drinking with friends while a 4-year-old got hold of her gun and shot another little boy has been sentenced to prison.
Tasha Dillard, 25, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and six counts of aggravated child endangerment in September, months after she was arrested in connection with the shooting death of 7-year-old Davion Gunter. According to court documents obtained by local ABC affiliate KAKE, Dillard was one of several adults gathered at an apartment complex in Planeview on March 15 while seven children were present. While Dillard was in her car doing tequila shots with the adults, the children were left to go inside her apartment to play.
Just 10 minutes later, one of the children came running out.
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The child told the group of adults to “Take him to the hospital,” causing one woman to run inside the apartment where Davion was found bleeding from his chest. The woman carried Davion outside and held onto him until first responders arrived.
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.
