Tragic final words of son, 26, before he was shot & killed by own dad on Christmas Eve while protecting pregnant fiancée
The devastating last words she heard her son say before he allegedly passed away at the hands of his father have been made public by a distraught mother.
Kevin Ward was visiting his 61-year-old father Harold Luster on Christmas Eve when he was shot and died in a domestic altercation.
“Kevin was my go-to person,” the victim’s mother, Katherine Ward, told local NBC station KSDK about her son, who is 26 years old.
“The best was my son. I sincerely hope he never went down there since he was a wonderful child who didn’t deserve that night.
However, neither he nor I ever imagined this would occur.
“It’s almost like I’m in a nightmare and I can’t get out.”
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Kevin, the eldest of four brothers, recently got engaged to Kaitlyn and is expecting their first child together.
On Christmas Eve, when disaster struck, the couple went to see Kevin’s father, Harold Luster, at his house in the High Ridge area of St. Louis.
Kevin had nothing to do with the previous argument between [Luster] and another family member. “That incident had already worked him up,” Katherine told KSDK.
According to court records that KSDK was able to get, Luster thought Katherine had cheated on him and that Kaitlyn was concealing evidence.
However, according to court filings, Luster took his revolver and bashed Kevin’s cherished truck when Kevin attempted to defuse the situation and defend Kaitlyn.
According to reports, Luster then called Katherine, who overheard Kevin utter the words, “Dad, why are you doing this, I don’t deserve this.”
Katherine’s son was shot by his father a short time later, and those were the last words she heard from him.
Katherine informed KSDK that “Kevin died with a gunshot to his forehead and his hands tucked in his pockets.”
“Kevin was the hero that night because he gave his life when [Luster] was about to shoot his fiancée.
“He would rather die than have her and that baby taken.”
I don’t want anyone to believe for even a moment that Kevin did something wrong that evening because he was a unique individual.
‘I WANT HIM TO SUFFER’
In addition to denying Luster’s accusations of infidelity, Katherine informed KSDK that she and Kevin’s father had a violent and abusive relationship.
“I genuinely think Kevin never imagined his father would harm him in that way… I always assumed it would be me rather than my son,” she continued.
“My son is no longer with me; he is unable to walk, breathe, see, or move.
“Even though it’s a jail cell, [Luster] is still alive, so why should he be allowed to sit? I want him to suffer every day because of that memories.
“As far as justice, he deserves life.”
In relation to Kevin’s death, Luster has entered a not guilty plea to first-degree murder and armed criminal action.
His return to court is scheduled for January 3 and he is being held without bond.
Kevin passed away with his hands in his pockets and a gunshot wound to his forehead. He was ultimately planning to shoot Kevin’s fiancé, but Kevin was the hero that night since he gave his life. Death is preferable to losing her and that child.
‘SENSELESS ACT’
Kevin, who worked for the Missouri Department of Transportation, is remembered as a life-loving individual.
At a vigil on December 28, Katherine reminded the dozens of people in attendance that “he had big dreams ahead of him.”
The vigil was accompanied by a balloon release.
Among the several attendees was Thomas Dittrich, Jr., Kevin’s former associate principal from middle school.
Kevin recently requested him to officiate his wedding, according to the assistant principal.
Dittrich, Jr. told local CBS station KMOV, “He really impressed me the way he grew up, working for MoDOT, having a serious girlfriend who is expecting a baby, and really making a life for himself.”
Kevin’s family, however, is left in mourning.
In order to support the family at this time, AGoFundMe was created.
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I wouldn’t want it on anyone, Katherine told KMOV, to have your baby taken away for no apparent reason.
It’s the most agonizing experience I’ve ever had to endure.
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