A 61-year-old man from Missouri has been arrested for the alleged murder of his son on Christmas Eve. The tragic incident occurred when the man, Harold Luster, shot his 26-year-old son, Kevin M. Ward, in front of his fiancee. The dispute that led to this devastating act was sparked by discussions about Luster’s wife’s infidelity. Following the incident, Luster was taken into custody on Tuesday and has been charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. The authorities have been actively involved in the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.
According to a news release by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, a tragic shooting occurred at approximately 8:55 p.m. on December 24, 2024, at a residence located in the 6400 block of Highway PP in High Ridge, which is about 25 miles southwest of St. Louis.
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According to investigators, Luster and Ward had a “disagreement” during which Luster went inside the house, grabbed a firearm, and proceeded to threaten someone before allegedly shooting his own son.
Authorities have not provided specific information about the incident, but they have confirmed that Luster was arrested and is currently being held in the Jefferson County Jail. He is facing charges and there is no bond set for his release.
The Sun Herald obtained a probable cause affidavit that revealed more information about Ward’s death.
Ward and his fiancée were visiting his father from St. Louis when things took a turn. During the evening, Luster and Ward’s fiancée got into an argument. Luster believed his wife, who is also Ward’s mother, was being unfaithful and accused the fiancée of knowing about the affair. The fiancée shared that Luster accused her of withholding information about his wife’s alleged cheating.
During the confrontation with Ward’s fiancee, Luster reportedly posed a threatening question, asking her, “Are you asking for trouble?”
Luster then headed back to his home and retrieved something.
According to reports, Ward instructed his fiancee to fetch a knife and then advised her to leave the house, telling her to dial 911 in case anything happened between him and his father.
As she was leaving, the fiancee reported hearing Ward attempting to soothe his father.
Ward allegedly declared that shooting her was out of the question.
According to reports, Luster supposedly replied, “Would you prefer to get shot instead?”
According to reports, Ward’s fiancee informed the police that Luster fired a single bullet, which hit Ward in the forehead, causing him to instantly collapse to the floor.
A neighbor’s security camera footage obtained by the police reportedly depicts Luster raising the muzzle of his gun before it flashes, leading to Ward’s fall.
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The article titled “‘You want to get shot instead?’: Dad executed son after accusing victim’s fiancée of ‘withholding information’ about his wife’s affair, police say” was originally published on Law & Crime.
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