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Pair of KCMO men charged with murder, robbery in March 2021 killings

NE KCMO double homicide 3.1.21.jpg
Posted at 1:30 PM, Oct 13, 2021
and last updated 2021-10-13 18:05:16-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two Kansas City, Missouri, men were charged with seven felonies apiece, including first-degree murder, for the March 2021 shooting deaths of Kyle Gerhardt and Kristopher Lunsford-Barrett.

The Jackson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday that Earl L. Dunn III, 20, and Vontez G. Howard, 24, have been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, four counts of armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon, and first-degree robbery in connection with the homicides, which took place on Norton Avenue in KCMO’s Northeast neighborhood.

Gerhardt and Lunsford-Barrett were shot to death March 1 in a vehicle, which subsequently crashed and caught fire.

KCFD fire crews were on the scene extinguishing the vehicle fire near Norton and Anderson avenues.

Police investigators found shell casings west of the crash scene and noted damage from gunfire to the vehicle.

Prosecutors have requested a $500,000 cash bond for Dunn and Howard.

There have been 120 homicides in KCMO so far in 2021, which is well behind last year when the city set a record with 179 murders but remains the second-most through the morning of Oct. 13 in the last five years.

For jurisdictions that utilize the Greater Kansas City Crime Stoppers Tips Hotline, anonymous tips can be made by calling 816-474-TIPS (8477), submitting the tip online or through the free mobile app at P3Tips.com.

Annual homicide details and data for the Kansas City area are available through the KSHB 41 News Homicide Tracker, which was launched in 2015. Read the KSHB 41 News Mug Shot Policy.