Crime
Tasha Dillard sentenced in shooting death of 7-year-old Davion Gunter
WICHITA, Kan. — A Wichita woman has been sentenced to more than three years in prison following her guilty plea in connection with the March shooting death of 7-year-old Davion Gunter in the city’s Planeview neighborhood.
On Thursday, Tasha Dillard was sentenced to 37 months in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated child endangerment, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said the fatal incident occurred after Dillard and several other adults left a group of young children unsupervised inside an apartment while they sat outside in a vehicle drinking alcohol.
During that time, a firearm discharged inside the residence, fatally striking 7-year-old Davion Gunter.
Dillard was arrested shortly after the incident 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 a single count of aggravated child endangerment.
The tragic case drew significant community attention to child safety and gun responsibility, particularly regarding the dangers of leaving firearms accessible to unsupervised children.
Dillard will serve her sentence in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple University’s Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
“The loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.”
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victim’s last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individual’s involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.