Prosecutors said the suspect confessed after entering a Walgreens covered in blood.
LENEXA, Kan. — A Kansas man pleaded guilty this week to killing his mother and aunt in a suburban Kansas City home after authorities said he walked into a Walgreens covered in blood and told workers he wanted to surrender to police.
Luke Anthony Howard, 35, entered guilty pleas May 13 to two counts of intentional second-degree murder in Johnson County District Court in connection with the February 2025 deaths of Valerie A. Howard, 63, and Joyce E. Austin, 71. Prosecutors had originally charged Howard with first-degree murder before reaching a plea agreement. The case drew attention across the Kansas City area because of the violent allegations, the family relationship between the victims and the suspect, and prior police contacts at the home before the killings occurred.
Investigators said the killings were discovered Feb. 12, 2025, after Howard entered a Walgreens store in Liberty, Missouri, wearing blood-stained clothing and speaking with pharmacy employees. According to court records, Howard told workers he wanted to turn himself in and later admitted to police that he had killed his mother and aunt inside the Lenexa residence where all three had been living. Officers responding to the home in the 15400 block of West 90th Street found Valerie Howard on the living room floor suffering from gunshot wounds to her abdomen. Austin was found dead on a couch inside the house. Authorities said emergency responders pronounced both women dead at the scene. Investigators later alleged that Howard told officers he committed the shootings after the women attempted to evict him from the property.
Court affidavits and police records outlined escalating tensions inside the household during the days before the killings. Austin reportedly served Howard with a 30-day eviction notice on Feb. 11, one day before the deaths. Authorities said officers had already visited the residence twice because of domestic disturbance calls. In one report cited in court filings, Austin allegedly told police she feared Howard and was concerned for her safety. Valerie Howard also reportedly described prior violent behavior involving her son during earlier incidents. According to investigators, the women had begun locking themselves in their bedrooms for protection because they felt unsafe in the home. Prosecutors did not publicly detail what evidence beyond Howard’s statements and the crime scene would have been presented if the case had gone to trial. Officials also have not publicly discussed whether mental health evaluations played a role in plea negotiations or sentencing discussions.
The killings shocked residents in Lenexa, a city southwest of Kansas City known largely for quiet residential neighborhoods and commercial developments. Family members and friends later remembered Valerie Howard and Joyce Austin as closely connected relatives who frequently traveled together and spent years supporting one another after their marriages ended. Valerie Howard’s obituary described her as a devoted Kansas City Chiefs fan who enjoyed boating, camping and visiting the ocean. Austin was remembered by relatives as a steady presence in the family and a longtime companion to Valerie. The deaths added to broader concerns raised by advocates and law enforcement officials about domestic violence cases involving adult family members sharing homes during periods of financial strain or housing instability. While authorities have not publicly described a long criminal history involving Howard, court records suggested tension in the household had become increasingly serious before the fatal shootings.
Under Kansas law, intentional second-degree murder convictions carry lengthy prison terms, though generally less severe penalties than first-degree murder convictions. Prosecutors have not publicly explained all terms of the plea agreement, including whether additional charges were dismissed as part of negotiations. Howard remains scheduled for future court proceedings tied to sentencing, where family members may be allowed to deliver victim impact statements describing the emotional and financial toll of the killings. The Johnson County District Attorney’s Office said the plea resolved the criminal case without the need for a jury trial, sparing relatives and witnesses from extended courtroom testimony. Court officials have not yet announced a final sentencing date. It also remains unclear whether prosecutors will seek consecutive prison terms that would require Howard to serve punishments for both deaths one after another.
Neighbors who spoke publicly after the killings described the case as difficult to understand because the home had appeared quiet from the outside. Some residents recalled seeing police vehicles at the address in the days before the shootings but said they did not realize the seriousness of the situation. Employees at the Walgreens where Howard reportedly surrendered were also drawn unexpectedly into the investigation after his arrival triggered a rapid law enforcement response. Authorities have not publicly identified the workers involved, but investigators said store employees immediately contacted police after Howard entered the business and confessed. Law enforcement agencies from Kansas and Missouri coordinated parts of the investigation because Howard crossed state lines after the killings. Officials have released few additional details about Howard’s movements between the shootings and his surrender at the store.
The case now moves toward sentencing in Johnson County court, where prosecutors and defense attorneys are expected to present recommendations in the coming months. Howard remains in custody as the criminal proceedings continue and officials finalize the next hearing date.
Author note: Last updated May 17, 2026.