Two men from Lawrence, Kansas have been found guilty in connection to a shooting incident that took place in 2021. District Attorney Suzanne Valdez announced that Javier Romero, 20, pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and Andrel D. Spates Jr., 21, pleaded to voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of 21-year-old Christian Willis of Wichita.
According to the Douglas Co. District Attorney’s Office, the charges against the two men stem from an incident that occurred on September 8, 2021, in the 1500 block of Kentucky St. The office also mentioned that the matter was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
In response to the conviction, District Attorney Valdez made a strong statement against firearm violence, emphasizing that it will not be tolerated in the community. The sentencing for Romero has been scheduled for March 25, 2024, and Spates’ sentencing for April 10, 2024, both at the Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement Center.
Romero faces a potential sentence ranging between 109 and 493 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections, while Spates faces between 55 and 247 months in the same department. The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney David Greenwald and Senior Assistant District Attorney Ricardo Leal on behalf of the State of Kansas.
The tragic incident serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence, and the legal proceedings underline the consequences of such actions. This conviction sends a strong message about the community’s commitment to upholding justice and ensuring the safety of its residents. As the legal process moves forward, the hope is that it will bring some measure of closure and justice for the victim’s family and loved ones.