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BREAKING: JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. — On Monday, April 28, Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced that a Kansas City man was sentenced to life in prison without parole for his involvement in a fatal shooting, which killed two people in Northeast Kansas City in 2021. 

In January, Earl Lamar Dunn III was convicted after the Jackson County Circuit Court jury found him guilty of two counts of 1st Degree Murder, Unlawful Use of a Weapon and three counts of Armed Criminal Action. Last week, a Jackson County judge sentenced the defendant to life without parole for the two murder charges, 30 years for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and 10 years on each count of Armed Criminal Action. 

“We are committed to holding violent offenders accountable, and I am proud our office secured justice for the victims of this crime. We also appreciate the community members who cooperated in the investigation, turning over surveillance footage to law enforcement that captured crucial evidence. Without the video footage, the case would have been much more difficult to investigate and prosecute,” said Prosecutor Johnson. “I strongly encourage community members to consider setting up security cameras at their homes and businesses, as they play a vital role advancing investigations and ultimately help us create safer neighborhoods.”

Kansas City police were dispatched to the area of Anderson and Norton Avenues on March 1, 2021, and found a vehicle on fire with two victims inside, according to court records. There were several spent shell casings on the street two blocks west of the accident and gunshot damage to the vehicle.  

The victims were identified as Kyle Gerhardt and Kristopher Lunsford-Barrett.

Detectives collected footage from area surveillance cameras, which captured another vehicle pursuing the victims in the neighborhood shortly before the victims’ vehicle crashed.

Information recovered from cell towers and mapping tools revealed the defendant to be in contact with one of the victims and in the same area of the crime scene during the same time of the crime. The DNA profile from a cigar butt inside the suspect vehicle also matched the defendant.

On June 29, 2023, the Northeast News reported that Vontez G. Howard was sentenced to 25 years on each 2nd Degree Murder conviction and 10 years on four Armed Criminal Action charges. That 10-year sentence was set to run consecutively to the two 25-year sentences for a total of 60 years. Sentences for Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Robbery 1st Degree were also set to run concurrent to other charges. Howard was convicted by a Jackson County jury in April 2023.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Jamie Hunt and Stephen Bertelsmann prosecuted the case on behalf of the state of Missouri. 

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