Kansas Woman Sentenced After 4-Year-Old Playing With Her Gun Fatally Shot 7-Year-Old Boy

WICHITA, KANSAS — A Kansas woman has been sentenced to three years in prison after a tragic shooting left a 7-year-old boy dead when a 4-year-old found her gun and pulled the trigger as she drank tequila with friends nearby, authorities said.

25-year-old Tasha Dillard pleaded guilty in September to involuntary manslaughter and six counts of aggravated child endangerment in connection with the death of 7-year-old Davion Gunter, according to court records.

A Night of Drinking Turns Tragic

The incident unfolded on March 15, 2024, at an apartment complex in the Planeview neighborhood of Wichita. Prosecutors said Dillard and several adults were drinking tequila shots in her car while seven children were left unsupervised inside her apartment.

Roughly ten minutes later, one of the children ran outside shouting for help — yelling, “Take him to the hospital!”

Inside the apartment, 7-year-old Davion Gunter was found bleeding from a gunshot wound to the chest. One woman carried him outside and held him until paramedics arrived.

“She knew Dillard had recently purchased a firearm,” a witness later told investigators.

Gun Left Out After Snapchat Video

At first, Dillard denied owning a gun — but later admitted she had one, claiming she left it on the kitchen counter behind her purse. She told police a friend had taken a video with the gun earlier that night “to look cute for Snapchat.”

Investigators believe a 4-year-old child then found the gun and accidentally fired it, striking Davion in the chest. The boy later died at the hospital, and his death was ruled a homicide.

“This tragedy was entirely preventable,” prosecutors said. “A child’s life was lost because adults were drinking instead of supervising.”

Reduced Sentence After Plea Deal

Dillard was originally charged with first-degree murder, but prosecutors agreed to a plea deal that reduced the charge to involuntary manslaughter.

On Thursday, a Sedgwick County judge sentenced Dillard to 37 months in prison — just over three years — followed by two years of post-release supervision.

Her defense team had requested a sentence below the standard guideline, arguing she had taken accountability and expressed remorse. The judge agreed to a lighter term.

A Community Still in Mourning

The shooting devastated the Planeview neighborhood, where residents held a vigil for young Davion. Family members described him as a sweet, playful boy who loved school and dancing.

Prosecutors said the case should serve as a warning about negligent gun storage, especially in homes with children.

“This case underscores the importance of gun safety and responsibility,” a Sedgwick County spokesperson said.

Accidental shootings involving children remain a major concern nationwide, with thousands of incidents reported every year. Safe storage laws and public awareness campaigns continue to stress the need to keep firearms unloaded, locked, and out of reach.

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