Kansas City man charged in fatal shooting of woman in Emerson Manor apartments
A Kansas City man has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a woman during an apparent domestic dispute, according to police and court documents.
Travon Oliver, 22, is accused of fatally shooting Chestina Gaskin, 23, in the head on June 26.
Along with second-degree murder, Oliver was also charged in Jackson County court with unlawful criminal action and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon.
The shooting took place in the Emerson Manor Apartments, where Oliver lives, according to both the Kansas City Police Department and court documents. Oliver and Gaskin entered the apartment together around 11 a.m., court documents show. About 50 minutes later, Oliver briefly exited, alone, before returning with another person.
On Thursday, police identified Gaskin as the deceased victim in the shooting.
Kansas City police officers responded to the building around noon on Wednesday, according to Sgt. Phil DiMartino, a KCPD spokesperson.
The shooting was witnessed by at least one person, a man, according to court records. The witness told police that Oliver and Gaskin began arguing that morning after Oliver accused Gaskin of cheating on him, according to court documents. At one point during the arguments, the witness said, Oliver put his hands around Gaskin’s neck to demonstrate his ability to kill her, court documents read.
The witness left the apartment Wednesday morning, but returned after an agitated phone call from Oliver, according to court documents. When he returned to the apartment, the witness said that Oliver threatened Gaskin.
As the argument escalated, Gaskin picked up a silver handgun from a bedside table, the witness told police. The witness said he took the handgun from Gaskin, then Oliver grabbed it from her and shot Gaskin in the head, according to court documents.
When Oliver left the building he dumped the handgun in the bushes outside the building, according to court documents. A K-9 police dog later recovered a silver 9mm handgun, which the witness said is the gun used to kill Gaskin.
During the 911 call preceding KCPD’s response, court documents state that a man’s voice can be heard saying, “You’re going to jail. I didn’t know you was going to do that.”
Oliver and Gaskin were previously in a relationship, according to court documents.
Oliver initially told police that four Black men entered the apartment where Gaskin died and shot her repeatedly, with 10-15 separate gunshots heard, according to court documents.
He later admitted this was a lie and to having the gun in his hand when Gaskin died, as well as to having accused Gaskin of infidelity. Oliver told police the weapon went off accidentally while he was trying to calm Gaskin down, according to court documents.
Gaskin and Oliver had both attended Northeast High School, according to social media. Oliver graduated in 2020. According to posts shared on social media, Gaskin had recently earned her cosmetology license.
A warrant issued for Oliver’s arrest includes a $150,000 cash bond, according to court documents. As of Thursday, Oliver is not listed as an inmate in the Jackson County Detention Center.
Gaskin’s death was the 75th homicide reported in Kansas City in 2024, according to data tracked by the Star. At the time of her death last year, 100 homicides had been reported in the city, according to Star data.
