DOUGLAS COUNTY —Two Kansas suspects in a 2021 murder in Kansas have admitted to their role in the death of 21-year-old Christian Willis of Wichita.
Javier Romero, 20, Lawrence pleaded no contest to murder in the second degree and Andrel D. Spates Jr., 21, of Lawrence, pleaded to voluntary manslaughter, according to Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez.
Charges stem from an incident that occurred in the 1500 block of Kentucky Street in Lawrence on September 8, 2021. Police in Lawrence arrested Romero days after the crime. U.S. Marshals tracked Spates to Tennessee and arrested him the following month.
“Firearm violence is absolutely avoidable and will not be tolerated in our community,” District Attorney Valdez said.
Senior Assistant District Attorney David Greenwald and Senior Assistant District Attorney Ricardo Leal represented the State of Kansas. The matter was investigated by Lawrence Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Romero’s sentencing is scheduled for March 25 and Spates’ sentencing for April 10, according to the district attorney's office.
Romero faces between 109 and 493 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) and Spates faces between 55 and 247 months in the KDOC.