Harold Luster (Jefferson County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office)
A 61-year-old man in Missouri has been arrested after he allegedly killed his son on Christmas Eve, fatally shooting the 26-year-old in front of his fiancee following a dispute about whether they knew about his wife cheating on him. Harold Luster was taken into custody on Tuesday and charged with one count of first-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action in the slaying of Kevin M. Ward, authorities announced.
According to a news release from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the fatal shooting took place at about 8:55 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2024, at a residence in the 6400 block of Highway PP in High Ridge, about 25 miles southwest of St. Louis.
Investigators said they believe that during a “disagreement,” between Luster and Ward, Luster “retrieved a firearm from the residence and threatened another person before allegedly shooting his son.”
Authorities did not release details about the incident other than saying that following the shooting, Luster was booked into the Jefferson County Jail where he remains in custody on a “no bond” warrant.
A probable cause affidavit obtained by the Sun Herald provided additional details about Ward’s death.
According to the report, Ward and his fiancee were visiting his father from St. Louis. At some point during the evening, Luster and Ward’s fiancee reportedly got into an argument because Luster believed his wife — who is also Ward’s mother — was cheating on him and he believed that Ward’s fiancee knew about his wife’s affair. The fiancee told police that Luster accused her of “withholding information” about his wife’s alleged cheating.
While arguing with Ward’s fiancee in front of Ward, Luster allegedly asked her, “Do you want to get shot?”
Luster then went and retrieved something from his home.
Ward reportedly told his fiancee to get him a knife and then directed her to run from the home, adding that she should “call 911 if something happened” between him and his father.
The fiancee told investigators that as she was leaving, she heard Ward trying to calm down his father.
“You’re not going to shoot her,” Ward reportedly said.
“You want to get shot instead?” Luster allegedly responded.
Ward’s fiancee reportedly told police that she then saw Luster fire a single bullet that struck Ward in the forehead causing him to immediately collapse to the floor.
Police also obtained footage from a neighbor’s security camera which reportedly showed Luster raise the muzzle of his gun before it flashes and Ward falls.
