Kansas City, Kansas – More than seven years after a deadly shooting, Lavont Carter, 24, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of K.C. Gillespie. Gillespie was fatally shot in March 2018 outside an apartment complex in Kansas City. At the time of the incident, Gillespie was just 20 years old.
Carter is currently incarcerated at the Moberly Correctional Center in Missouri, serving a 15-year sentence for charges including manslaughter and armed criminal action connected to a separate case. His new charges come after an extensive investigation, during which a three-hour presentation by Kansas City, Kansas, detectives revealed crucial elements of the case. Michelle Gillespie, the victim’s mother, expressed relief that Carter would finally face accountability for his actions.
“After all these years, he finally has to answer to what he did to K.C., which was murder,” Michelle Gillespie said. “I urge all parents who have lost children to gun violence to persist in seeking justice.”
According to Michelle, her son was attempting to purchase a firearm when he was shot multiple times. A Snapchat conversation between Gillespie and Carter turned out to be important evidence that helped identify the suspect. Following the detective’s presentation to the Wyandotte District Attorney’s office, charges were filed against Carter.
Gillespie left behind a daughter, Kali, who was only 2 years old at the time of her father’s death. Growing up without a father has been a struggle for her. “She would ask if heaven has a phone number to reach him. Those moments are heartbreaking,” Michelle said.
Carter’s history of violence is concerning. He has been linked to other fatal shootings that have left families devastated. In 2020, he was arrested following a mass shooting in Westport that injured four individuals and resulted in the death of 17-year-old Devin Harris, whose daughter was an infant at the time. Despite the severity of that incident, the case was dismissed by the prosecutor’s office.
More recently, in 2022, another mass shooting occurred outside a bar in Westport, leading to the death of a 24-year-old man, Cardell Crawford. For that crime, Carter is also serving time. Michelle Gillespie has been vocal about her concerns regarding Carter’s potential danger to the community. “He doesn’t need to be out in society. Any time he is behind bars, it makes the world a safer place,” she stated.
In addition to her grief over the loss of her son, Michelle has faced further heartache with the passing of her father, Russell Mantooth, just a day after K.C. was killed. The two were very close, and the family held a joint funeral for both in 2018.
As the legal proceedings move forward, families affected by gun violence are reminded of the toll it takes long after the initial tragedy. Michelle Gillespie’s ongoing advocacy reflects a determination not just for justice for her son, but to raise awareness and promote accountability in the face of continuing gun violence in the community.