LABETTE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a woman death in a violent domestic assault in Labette County.
Just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a reported disturbance in the 1100 block of Richard Avenue in Parsons after multiple 911 callers reported hearing screams followed by two gunshots, according to a media release.
Upon arrival, officers immediately began speaking with witnesses and canvassing the area. Tragically, they discovered a deceased woman with a gunshot wound. Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident was domestic in nature.
A juvenile witness, identified as the victim's son, reported that a violent domestic altercation had taken place between his mother and her boyfriend, 36-year-old Steve Antone McDonald. The juvenile told officers that McDonald struck him in the head during the argument, prompting this mother to flee the residence. As she ran down the street, McDonald followed and fired two shots, one of which fatally struck her, according to police.
Following the shooting, McDonald returned to the home, took the victim's car keys, and fled the scene in a white 2000 Cadillac Escalade.
Parsons Police immediately issued an alert for the suspect and the vehicle. A short time later, law enforcement in Wilson County spotted the suspect vehicle. Greenwood County deputies assisted in attempting a felony stop near the town of Severy. A brief pursuit ensued before the vehicle crashed. Upon approach, deputies discovered McDonald inside the vehicle with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Emergency aid was rendered on scene, but McDonald succumbed to his injury.
McDonald, originally from the Kansas City area, had recently been residing in Parsons with the victim. He had a history of domestic violence. On April 24, 2025, he was arrested on multiple charges, including Aggravated Domestic Battery, Aggravated Kidnapping, Criminal Threat, Criminal Damage to Property, and Endangering a Child. He was released on bond on May 15, 2025.
Lieutenant Sherri McGuire, who oversees the Parsons Police Department's Domestic Violence Unit, said "This is a heartbreaking tragedy for the family, the victim's child, and our entire community. Domestic violence is a silent epidemic that tears lives and families apart. Our Domestic Violence Unit was created to intervene, support survivors, and prevent these outcomes. We urge anyone experiencing abuse to reach out there is help, and you are not alone."
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please reach out for help.