Son of Lenexa woman charged in double homicide over eviction notice

LENEXA, Kan. (KCTV) - On Thursday, Lenexa Police identified two women shot and killed inside a Lenexa home and the man allegedly responsible for their deaths.

Joyce Austin, 71, and her former sister-in-law, Valerie Howard, 63, were shot and killed inside the Lenexa home they shared. Valerie’s son, 34-year-old Luke Anthony Howard also lived at the home. He is charged with two counts of premeditated first-degree murder in their deaths.

Court documents show Luke Howard went to a pharmacy in Liberty, Missouri on Feb. 12. He had blood on his clothes, according to the affidavit. He told the two pharmacists inside he needed to turn himself in to the police. The court documents show that when police arrived Howard confessed to killing his mother and his former aunt.

Early Wednesday morning, Police responded to the Lenexa home and found Valerie Howard on the floor in the living room. Austin was on the couch in the living room. Investigators said both women had been shot and died before they arrived on scene. The affidavit shows officers found about 10-12 shell casings in the living room.

Police said they responded to the Lenexa home multiple times in the days leading up to the shootings.

The affidavit shows Austin’s adult son called police around on Wednesday and asked if his mother was dead and he said he knew Luke had two guns and his mother had one.

The court document shows officers were called to the home twice on Feb. 10.

• Monday, Feb. 10, 2025 call (according to court affidavit)
  • Luke Howard told police his mother grabbed him around his neck and pushed him
  • Valerie Howard reported Luke broke an ashtray in her bedroom, pushed her, and caused her to fall
  • Valerie Howard told officers she and Joyce Austin locked themselves in their rooms because Luke had been violent before in 2021
• Monday, Feb. 10, 2025 (second call according to affidavit)
  • Joyce Austin called police after Luke Howard allegedly threatened her
  • Austin told police Luke Howard suffered from bipolar disorder
  • Austin told officers Luke was being erratic and causing her to be afraid. She wanted him to leave her home
• Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 (according to court affidavit)
  • Luke Howard called police and and said he was being kicked out of the house
  • Luke claimed one of the women inside the home pointed a gun at him, but then backtracked on that report, adding he thought she was going to get a gun
  • Joyce Austin told police she gave Luke a 30-day eviction notice, that she believed Luke had two guns, but didn’t know where they were kept
  • She said he became upset and started yelling at her
  • Johnson County Mental Health arrived on scene and spoke to Luke, he said he didn’t have any firearms
  • Authorities searched his room but did not find any weapons

Luke Howard is in custody in Clay County. He will have an extradition hearing before he is returned to Johnson County to face the crimes.

He is being held on a $5 million bond.

Neighbors told KCTV5 Austin lived in the home for decades, and Valerie moved in a few years ago, and then came her son Luke.

“How horrible, I mean to be afraid in your own house,” said Neighbor, Linda Wood. She added, “Obviously Joyce was in her right to ask him to move out and she gave him 30 days notice which apparently angered him according to the documents.”

This case is a domestic situation, Johnson Conunty District Attorney said they do a lot to try and prevent these situations from escalating.

“Since we are 48 hours in we can’t really say what are the contributing factors that led to this situation,” said Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe.

District Attorney Howe said they have co-responders that appear on these cases, CIT trained officers including many in Lenexa, and lethality assessments to assess the danger to the victims.

“There are few and far between that we see they come to this degree what we hope to do is triage a lot of these situations and stop them before it happens,” said District Attorney Howe.

They also work with Safehome, Johnson County’s domestic violence shelter. He said they have two employees from the shelter embedded in his office to work with domestic violence cases.

In a statement to KCTV5, the shelter shared that help is available.

“Safehome is heartbroken to hear of the loss of two lives due to domestic violence. This tragedy is a painful reminder of the urgent need to survivors, strengthen protections, and work toward ending the cycle of abuse. No one should have to live in fear, and no life should be cut short by violence. Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones, the first responders, and the Lenexa community. If you or someone you love needs , Safehome’s confidential is available 24/7 at 913-262-2868,”

- Heidi Wooten- Safehome President and CEO

“Part of the problem is we can’t predict future human behavior,” said DA Howe. He added, “Between my office and law enforcement we do a really effective job of holding people able who commit these kinds of violent crimes.”

He said if you are in a violent relationship whether it is family, a significant other, or a roommate, there are ways to get help.

“There are resources available and we are there to the victims of domestic violence,” said DA Howe.

Neighbors said Austin was nice, friendly, and always waved hello.

“I would say hi to her when I saw her she would be outside gardening and stuff like that,” said Wood.

Living nearby for 33 years, Wood said she wishes more could have been done for the two women.

“It was Joyce’s house so she wasn’t about to leave her own house although that would have been better than the outcome that happened now,” said Wood. She added, “We really have a mental health crisis in our country, there are not enough places to treat patients, there are not enough psychiatrists and psychologists available it is really very sad.”

You can learn more about domestic violence resources here.

Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.