Man dies protecting pregnant fiancée from angry father

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A young Missouri man lost his life on Christmas Eve, tragically shot in the forehead while protecting his pregnant fiancée during a heated confrontation with his father.

The incident resulted in Harold Luster being charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action for allegedly killing his son, Kevin Ward.

“A senseless act took my baby away from me,” Katherine Ward said through tears during her interview with KSDK.

A Missouri man, Harold Luster, 61, has been charged with the murder of his son, Kevin Ward, 26, following a violent altercation on Christmas Eve. The incident occurred at their home in High Ridge, where Luster reportedly retrieved a firearm after an argument with Ward's fiancée… pic.twitter.com/dQsHJPPp6F

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— True Crime Updates (@TrueCrimeUpdat) December 27, 2024

The tragic events unfolded when Kevin, 26, and his pregnant fiancée Kaitlyn visited Luster, 61, before their planned Christmas Eve celebration at Katherine’s home.

Katherine Ward explained that Luster had been involved in an unrelated argument with another family member prior to Kevin’s arrival, which had already left him agitated.

According to court documents, the situation escalated when Luster accused Ward’s mother of infidelity and confronted Kaitlyn, who is six months pregnant, about allegedly “withholding information.”

The confrontation turned deadly when Kevin stepped in to defend them, prompting Luster to retrieve a firearm.

Court records indicate that Luster threatened Kaitlyn, asking if she wanted to be shot.

During the altercation, Luster called Katherine, who was preparing for their holiday gathering. She heard her son’s final plea: “Dad, why are you doing this? I don’t deserve this,” before the call ended abruptly.

Shortly after, Luster allegedly shot his son fatally in the head.

Katherine received a second call from Luster, who informed her he had shot someone.

“Kevin died with a gunshot to his forehead and his hands tucked in his pockets,” Ward told the outlet.

“He ultimately was going to shoot Kevin’s fiancée and Kevin sacrificed himself, he was the hero that night. He would rather die than have her and that baby taken.”

Katherine denied the allegations of infidelity, describing her relationship with Luster as intermittent. She revealed that Luster, who was living with another woman at the time, had subjected her to both physical and emotional abuse.

Kevin, a maintenance worker at the Missouri Department of Transportation, was eagerly anticipating his child’s arrival in June, focusing on his dream of providing a home and nurturing family environment.

“I will have to sit there and hold his baby for the first time because he won’t be able to,” Ward told the outlet with tears streaming down her face.

“My son was the best. He was a great kid that didn’t deserve that night and I wish 1,000 times he never went down there. But me and him never would have thought this would ever happen. It’s almost like I’m in a nightmare and I can’t get out.”

Missouri son Kevin Ward fatally shot by his dad as he tried to protect pregnant fianceé on Christmas Eve: ‘He was the hero’ https://t.co/EszTC62mHC pic.twitter.com/hKlVzqhaQP

— New York Post (@nypost) December 31, 2024

Law enforcement apprehended Luster on Wednesday night, and he remains in Jefferson County jail without bond, facing charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action.

Katherine Ward has vowed to seek justice for her son’s death.

“My son cannot breathe, my son cannot walk, my son cannot see, my son is not here no more. Why should (Harold) get the pleasure of sitting, even though it’s a jail cell, he’s still alive, and I want him to suffer every day at that memory,” Ward stated.

“As far as justice, he deserves life.”