Harold Luster (Jefferson County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office)
In Missouri, a 61-year-old man was arrested for the alleged murder of his 26-year-old son on Christmas Eve. The incident occurred following a dispute about his wife’s infidelity, ending with Harold Luster shooting his son in front of his fiancee. Luster faces charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Kevin M. Ward.
The tragic event unfolded around 8:55 p.m. on December 24, 2024, at a home in High Ridge, Missouri. Specifically, the shooting took place at a property on Highway PP, approximately 25 miles southwest of St. Louis, as reported by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities revealed that the altercation between Luster and Ward escalated, leading to Luster retrieving a firearm from the residence. Allegedly, Luster not only threatened another individual but also fired the fatal shots at his son during the heated confrontation.
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.
