Two Lawrence men sentenced to prison for 2021 shooting death on Kentucky Street

Douglas County District Attorney Suzanne Valdez today announced that Andrel D. Spates Jr., 22, of Lawrence, was sentenced to 206 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) and Javier Romero, 20, of Lawrence, was sentenced to 75 months in the KDOC for their convictions in the 2021 shooting death of 21-year-old Christian Willis of Wichita.

“Every person involved in this incident had a firearm,” District Attorney Valdez said. “Neither defendant showed any concern for public safety, and they must be held accountable. We should not have to fear an outbreak of gun violence in our neighborhoods.”

Charges stem from an incident that occurred in the 1500 block of Kentucky Street shortly after 7 p.m., on September 8, 2021, when Willis tried to rob Romero during a drug transaction. In January 2024, Spates pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter and Romero pleaded to murder in the second degree.

Judge Stacey Donovan also sentenced both to 36 months post-release supervision and both must register as violent offenders for 15 years.

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.