Valerie Junius, a 36-year-old African American woman, was tragically killed on July 29, 2021, in Katy, Texas. Valerie was on the phone with her mother when her husband, Lawrence Reed, allegedly shot her multiple times. The incident occurred in their apartment, where Valerie was found dead by authorities who responded to reports of a shooting. Reed had barricaded himself inside the home but later surrendered to SWAT personnel.
The motive for the shooting appeared to be an ongoing domestic disturbance between the couple. Valerie had been in the process of leaving her husband and had been living with friends and family in Chicago, her hometown, for about a month before returning home the day before her murder.
Lawrence Reed, 56, was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, Valerie Junius. He also faced two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for shooting Valerie's 16-year-old son and 20-year-old daughter, who were also wounded but survived. Reed was convicted by a jury of murder and sentenced to life in prison. He was also convicted of two counts of aggravated assault of a family member and received 20 years for each charge, with all three prison sentences running concurrently. The couple had a blended family with a total of six children, ranging in age from 4 to 20 years old.
The family of Valerie Junius held a memorial for her, where they remembered her as a loving mother who was trying to leave an abusive relationship. Domestic violence had become a troubling trend in the area, with the Harris County Sheriff's Office reporting a major uptick in cases in 2021. Valerie's family emphasized the importance of standing by loved ones who are unhappy in relationships and urged the community to support those in need. The family also sought donations to help with expenses for the six children Valerie left behind.
