WICHITA, Kan. — A Wichita woman will spend more than three years in prison for her role in the death of 7-year-old Davion Gunter, who was fatally shot inside an apartment earlier this year in the city’s Planeview neighborhood. The heartbreaking case has drawn attention across the community, highlighting the dangers of leaving children unsupervised around unsecured firearms.
According to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, 36-year-old Tasha Dillard was sentenced Thursday to 37 months in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated child endangerment. Prosecutors said the fatal shooting happened in March when Dillard and several other adults left a group of children alone inside an apartment while they sat outside in a vehicle drinking alcohol.
During that time, investigators said, a firearm that had been left unsecured inside the residence discharged, striking young Davion. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, but the child could not be saved. The incident sent shockwaves through the Planeview neighborhood, leaving residents mourning the loss of a child whose life was just beginning.
Dillard was arrested shortly after the shooting and initially faced first-degree murder and seven counts of aggravated child endangerment. However, in September, she entered a plea agreement that reduced the charges to involuntary manslaughter and one count of child endangerment. The deal avoided a lengthy trial while ensuring she would serve prison time for her role in the boy’s death.
Prosecutors described the tragedy as “a preventable loss,” emphasizing the need for greater care and responsibility when children are present. They said the case serves as a painful reminder that firearms should always be stored safely and that children should never be left unsupervised in dangerous environments. Advocates across Wichita have echoed those concerns, calling for stronger education on gun safety and child protection.
Dillard will serve her sentence in the Kansas Department of Corrections, where she will remain for just over three years before becoming eligible for release. While the legal proceedings have concluded, the memory of Davion Gunter continues to weigh heavily on the community — a reminder of how one moment of negligence can cause a lifetime of heartbreak.