A father who was about to live in Missouri was shot and killed on Christmas Eve while protecting his pregnant fiancée during an argument with his mother while she was waiting for the couple at home to celebrate Christmas.
Harold Laster was charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the death of his son Kevin Ward.
“An act of stupidity took my baby away from me,” Katherine Ward said through tears. KSDK on friday.
Ward said Kevin, 26, and his fiancée, Caitlin, were visiting Laster, 61, before they were scheduled to head to his home on Christmas Eve.
“(Harold) and another family member had been arguing for some time, but it had nothing to do with Kevin,” Ward explained.
“He was already excited about the incident.''
Laster accused Ward's mother of cheating on him and of “withholding information” from Katelyn, who is six months pregnant, the outlet reported, citing court records.
When Kevin intervened, Laster grabbed the gun, police said.
According to the Kansas City Star,Luster asked Caitlin if she wanted to be shot.
Ward said she was preparing to have the couple over on Christmas Eve when, during an argument, Laster called her and heard her son say, “Dad, why are you doing this?” . I don’t deserve this,” I said before hanging up.
He is accused of shooting his son in the forehead shortly afterward.
Laster then called Ward a second time and told him he had shot someone, police said.
“Kevin died with a bullet in his forehead and his hands in his pockets,” Ward told the magazine.
“He ended up trying to shoot Kevin's fiancée, but Kevin sacrificed himself. He was the hero of the night. He would rather die than have her and their baby taken away.” It was.”
The grieving mother said she had never cheated on him and described their relationship as “on and off”.
She also claimed that he was physically and emotionally abusive and was living with another woman at the time of his alleged murder of her son.
According to his mother, Kevin and Caitlin were due to give birth in June.
Ward, who works as a maintenance worker for the Missouri Department of Transportation, said his son's main goal is to buy his children a home and raise a loving family.
“I have to sit there and hold his baby for the first time because he can't do that,” Ward told the outlet through tears.
“My son was the best. He didn't deserve that night because he was a great kid, and I wished a thousand times he didn't go there. But I also He never expected something like this to happen. It's like he's in a nightmare and he can't get out of it.”
Laster was arrested Wednesday night and charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection to his son's death.
He is currently jailed without bail in Jefferson County.
He pleaded not guilty Thursday and is scheduled to reappear in court for a bail review hearing on January 3, the newspaper said. KSDK.
Ward, who is scheduled to appear at the hearing, said she plans to fight to ensure her son's death was not in vain.
“My son can't breathe, my son can't walk, my son can't see, my son isn't here anymore. Why should (Harold) have the pleasure of sitting? “Even if it was prison, he's still alive and I want him to suffer every day with that memory,” Ward said.
“As far as justice is concerned, he deserves life.”
