Katy Man Sentenced to Life for Deadly Domestic Violence Shooting Rampage

A Katy man was sentenced to life in prison for shooting three family members, including the fatal shooting of his wife, during a chaotic domestic violence incident in 2021. The announcement was made by Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg.

Lawrence Reed, 56, was convicted by a jury of murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and sentenced to life in prison late Thursday. On July 29, 2021, Reed shot and killed 36-year-old Valarie Junius at their home. He was also convicted of two counts of aggravated assault for shooting two others during the incident, receiving the maximum punishment of 20 years for each count, to run concurrently.

Reed and Junius had a blended family with six children, including two children together, ages 8 and 4. On the day of the shooting, Reed had previously texted strange messages to his family about a gun while they were away on a trip to Chicago. After their return, the family searched the house and discovered a .40-caliber handgun, which they removed from the home.

On the day of the shooting, Reed had written a message to Junius expressing his love, despite the couple facing marital problems. He urged her to come upstairs to read the card, but she declined. Reed confronted her downstairs, where he shot his 20-year-old stepdaughter in the chest, severely injuring her but she ultimately survived.

As panic ensued, Junius attempted to flee the home but was shot by Reed, who followed her outside. He also shot his 16-year-old son twice as the family members tried to escape. Neighbors heard the commotion and called 911, with one attempting CPR on Junius before Reed intervened.

When deputies arrived, Reed barricaded himself inside the house, threatening to shoot anyone who approached. The 20-year-old stepdaughter, who had been shot, managed to hide in a closet with her baby and call 911, remaining on the line for 49 minutes before officers safely extracted her.

During the trial, testimonies highlighted the heroic actions of the children and first responders, emphasizing the life-saving measures taken to treat the victims. Assistant District Attorney Kelly Marshall stated that Reed had “absolutely murderous intent” during the shooting and noted the significant dangers of domestic violence.