In the quiet, gated community of Cartona in Scottsdale, Arizona, a horrific scene unfolded on December 27, 2006, shattering the neighborhood's tranquility. Inside their home, 17-year-old Meggie Le, a female, became a victim of a violent rampage orchestrated by her stepfather, Lee Howe. The evening turned tragic when Howe, armed with two handguns, first shot and killed his 44-year-old wife and Meggie's mother, Catherine Howe, in a bedroom.
Following the initial attack, Howe turned his
aggression towards his stepchildren. He went to the room of his 18-year-old stepson, Richard Le, and opened fire, wounding him. Richard managed to escape to his sister Meggie's room, where they barricaded themselves. A 911 call from that room captured the terrifying moments as Howe forced his way in and shot Meggie multiple times. Despite his own injuries, Richard fought back, initially with a small knife.
In a desperate act of defense for himself and his sister, Richard managed to escape the room and the house to seek help from a neighbor. Overcome with concern for his family, he courageously re-entered the home. There, he discovered his mother's body and his sister gravely wounded but still alive. He then confronted his stepfather in the kitchen. In the ensuing struggle, Richard fatally wounded Lee Howe with a kitchen knife, bringing an end to the deadly assault.
Meggie Le was critically injured in the attack and was transported to a hospital, where she ultimately succumbed to her wounds. The sole suspect in the murders of Meggie Le and Catherine Howe was Lee Howe, who was killed at the scene by his stepson. Authorities did not pursue any other suspects or make any further arrests in connection with the incident. The motive for Lee Howe's violent outburst was not immediately clear to investigators.
