A grieving mother has shared the heartbreaking last words of her son, who was tragically killed on Christmas Eve in a devastating family incident.
Katherine Ward, a resident of St. Louis County, Missouri, revealed the chilling details of the day her son, Kevin Ward, lost his life. Kevin, 26, was allegedly shot by his father, Harold Luster, at Luster’s home in High Ridge, Missouri. Authorities say the incident was fueled by Harold’s accusations that Kevin and his fiancée, Kaitlyn, were keeping secrets about Harold’s wife’s alleged affair.
Katherine recounted how she overheard Kevin’s desperate plea during a phone call with his father. “Dad, why are you doing this? I don’t deserve this,” she heard Kevin say as his father reportedly vented his anger by attacking his truck. Moments later, tragedy struck.
Kevin and Kaitlyn were spending the holidays at Harold’s home when tensions escalated. According to a legal document, Harold and Kaitlyn got into an argument after Harold accused her and Kevin of hiding information about his wife’s supposed infidelity. Trying to defuse the situation, Kevin told Kaitlyn to hand him a knife and call for help if things got worse.
As Kaitlyn was leaving the house, she heard Kevin attempting to calm his father down. “You’re not going to shoot her,” Kevin reportedly said. Harold’s alleged response was chilling: “You want to get shot instead?” He then fired a single shot into Kevin’s forehead. Kevin died instantly, with his hands still tucked in his pockets.
Katherine described her son as a hero who sacrificed his life to protect Kaitlyn and their unborn child, who is due in June. “He would rather die than have her and that baby taken,” she said. “Kevin was my everything. He was a kind, wonderful kid who didn’t deserve this. I wish a thousand times he never went there.”
The heartbroken mother also shared her anguish over losing her son. “A senseless act took my baby away from me. I’ll never see him walk through my door and say ‘Mom.’ I won’t celebrate birthdays or Christmases with him anymore. The first time I hold his baby, he won’t be there.”
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has charged Harold Luster, 61, with first-degree murder and armed criminal action. He remains in custody as the investigation continues.
The tragic event has left loved ones mourning the loss of Kevin, a man who gave his life to save others. Katherine’s pain is shared by everyone who knew Kevin as a devoted son, fiancé, and soon-to-be father.
