Investigators said the killings happened days after relatives tried to remove him from their shared home.
LENEXA, Kan. — A 35-year-old Kansas man pleaded guilty this week to killing his mother and aunt after walking into a Walgreens covered in blood and telling workers he wanted to surrender to police, according to prosecutors and court records tied to the February 2025 double homicide.
Luke Anthony Howard entered guilty pleas May 13 to two counts of intentional second-degree murder in Johnson County District Court. Prosecutors had originally charged Howard with first-degree murder in the deaths of Valerie A. Howard, 63, and Joyce E. Austin, 71. The plea agreement marked a major step in a case that drew attention across the Kansas City area after investigators said Howard confessed shortly after the shootings. Authorities said the killings followed escalating tensions inside the home, including police calls and an eviction notice delivered shortly before the attack.
Investigators said the case began unfolding on Feb. 12, 2025, when Howard entered a Walgreens in Liberty wearing blood-covered clothing and approached pharmacy employees. According to court affidavits, Howard told workers he wanted to turn himself in and admitted he had killed two people. Officers later traced the confession to a home in the 15400 block of West 90th Street in Lenexa, where Howard had been living with his mother and aunt. Police found Valerie Howard on the living room floor suffering from gunshot wounds to the abdomen. Austin was discovered dead on a couch inside the residence. Authorities later alleged Howard admitted he killed both women because they had evicted him from the home. Johnson County prosecutors said Howard accepted reduced charges as part of a negotiated plea deal filed in court Wednesday.
Records connected to the investigation described mounting problems inside the household during the days before the killings. Police had reportedly responded twice to the residence for domestic disturbance calls shortly before the shootings. Court documents stated Austin served Howard with a 30-day eviction notice on Feb. 11, one day before the killings were reported. Investigators also cited earlier concerns expressed by the two women about Howard’s behavior. According to affidavits summarized in local reporting, Austin contacted police and said she feared Howard. Valerie Howard also reportedly described earlier violent behavior involving her son and told authorities she and Austin often locked themselves inside their bedrooms because they felt unsafe. Officials have not publicly detailed what led to the final confrontation inside the home or whether any witnesses besides Howard were present during the shootings. Authorities also have not released additional information about the firearm used in the killings.
The deaths shocked relatives and neighbors who knew the women as longtime companions and family members with close ties to the Kansas City area. Valerie Howard’s obituary described her as an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan who enjoyed camping, boating and traveling. The obituary also described Austin as her close friend and travel partner in addition to being her former sister-in-law. Their shared home in Lenexa had become a gathering place for family members over the years, according to people who knew them. Domestic violence experts have long noted that eviction disputes and escalating household conflicts can increase tensions in shared living situations, though investigators in this case have not publicly discussed whether there were additional warning signs before the shootings. Court filings indicate authorities had documented earlier disturbances at the residence, but no criminal charges tied to those earlier incidents were publicly announced before the killings occurred.
Howard’s guilty plea significantly changes the direction of the criminal proceedings. By pleading guilty to intentional second-degree murder, Howard avoided a potential trial on the original first-degree murder charges. Prosecutors have not publicly outlined the full sentencing recommendation connected to the plea agreement, and a sentencing hearing date had not been widely released as of Friday. Under Kansas law, second-degree murder convictions can carry lengthy prison terms, though final punishment depends on criminal history and judicial findings at sentencing. The Johnson County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the plea agreement after the hearing and indicated additional court proceedings remain ahead before the case formally concludes. It was not immediately clear whether relatives of the victims addressed the court during the plea hearing or whether victim impact statements will be presented at sentencing. Court officials also have not indicated whether additional evidence from the investigation will become public before sentencing.
The Walgreens confession remained one of the most striking details in the investigation. Employees working at the Liberty store were suddenly confronted by a man covered in blood calmly asking to surrender, according to investigative records. Authorities have not publicly identified the workers involved, but court documents indicated employees quickly contacted police after speaking with Howard. The case drew widespread attention because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the confession and the relationship between the victims and the defendant. Neighbors in Lenexa later described the killings as devastating for the quiet residential area. Family tributes remembered Valerie Howard for her love of travel and ocean vacations, while Austin was remembered as a steady companion and trusted friend. The deaths left surviving relatives mourning two women whose lives had been closely connected for years before the violence inside their shared home.
The case now moves toward sentencing in Johnson County court, where a judge will determine Howard’s punishment under the plea agreement reached with prosecutors. Additional hearings are expected in the coming months as the criminal proceedings near their conclusion.