Kansas man allegedly fatally shot wife, son during hours-long standoff with police

LENEXA, Kan. (TCN) -- A 53-year-old man is facing murder charges for allegedly killing his wife and son during a lengthy standoff with police.

On Friday, Nov. 1, at 8:20 p.m., Lenexa Police Department officers responded to a home on the 7900 block of Hallet Street regarding an armed disturbance and heard gunshots from inside the residence. Officers made contact with Todd Donovan, the man suspected of firing his gun, but he "refused to comply with officers' requests to come outside peacefully." The Lenexa Tactical Team and other crisis negotiators arrived and communicated with Donovan for two hours. Donovan reportedly stopped speaking with them after that time.

According to Lenexa Police, tactical team members entered the home at 1:50 a.m. and took Donovan into custody, then transported him to a hospital for a possible overdose. Inside, police located 52-year-old Sheila Donovan and 22-year-old Tyler Donovan deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. Police also found out that Todd Donovan allegedly fatally shot his neighbor’s dog around the same time the call came in.

The Johnson County District Attorney’s Office is charging Todd Donovan with two counts of capital murder and one count of cruelty to animals.

WDAF-TV reports the district attorney could seek the death penalty against Donovan.

District Attorney Steve Howe told WDAF, "Because two individuals' lives were taken, it does make this eligible for a capital murder case. That’s something that we don’t take lightly and it’s something that will take a considerable period of time working with the Lenexa Police Department before we ultimately make that decision."

A judge set Donovan’s bond at $2 million.

Donovan and his family reportedly did not have any past history of domestic violence. Police did not reveal any details about a possible motive.

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