In High Ridge, Missouri, a tragic incident unfolded on Christmas Eve when a 61-year-old man was arrested for allegedly shooting and killing his son during a heated argument. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Harold Luster, who now faces charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of his 26-year-old son, Kevin Ward. Luster is currently being held without bond.
According to the authorities, the argument began when Luster accused Kevin’s mother of infidelity and believed Kevin’s fiancée was hiding the truth. Things quickly escalated when Luster reportedly retrieved a gun from inside his home. He is accused of threatening someone else at the scene before turning the weapon on his son.
The heartbreaking sequence of events unfolded at around 8:55 p.m. on December 24. Kevin’s fiancée, who was present during the incident, called 911 to report that Kevin had been shot in the forehead. Deputies arrived shortly afterward and found Kevin lifeless, with a gunshot wound to his head.
In her statement to the deputies, Kevin’s fiancée recounted the chilling moments leading up to the shooting. She said Luster had asked her if she “wanted to get shot” during the argument. Kevin, concerned for her safety, told her to stay in the car and call 911 if anything happened. She followed his advice and moved her car farther away from the house.
As Kevin attempted to calm the situation, his father reportedly emerged from the house, still armed. Kevin pleaded with Luster not to harm his fiancée, but Luster allegedly turned the gun on Kevin instead, responding, “You wanna get shot instead?” Witnesses say Luster then raised the firearm and shot Kevin, who collapsed to the ground. The horrifying event was captured on surveillance footage from a nearby home.
Adding to the heartbreak, Kevin’s fiancée is pregnant with the couple’s first child. She shared that Kevin had been excited about becoming a father for the first time. Kevin’s mother described her son as a hero, saying he gave his life to protect others. “He’s going to be forever in our hearts,” she said, vowing to attend every court hearing to ensure justice is served.
The small community of High Ridge is left grieving this devastating loss as the case unfolds.
