Todd Michael Donovan arrested in fatal Lenexa shooting death of Tyler Donovan
A man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of his wife and son following a standoff with law enforcement on Friday night in Lenexa, Kansas. Todd Michael Donovan, 53, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly shooting his wife, Sheila Donovan, and their son, Tyler Donovan, on November 1.
In addition to the murder charges, Donovan faces one count of cruelty to animals after reportedly killing a neighbor’s dog that same evening.
Lenexa police responded to reports of gunfire around 8:20 p.m. near Hallet Street and Mullen Road. Upon arriving, officers heard multiple shots coming from inside the residence. Efforts to persuade Donovan to leave the home peacefully were unsuccessful, leading to the involvement of the Lenexa Tactical Team and crisis negotiators. After nearly two hours of negotiation, Donovan reportedly hung up, prompting police to enter the home and take him into custody.
Upon exiting the residence, it was discovered that Donovan may have overdosed, necessitating his transport to a local hospital for treatment. Following his departure, officers found the bodies of Sheila and Tyler Donovan, both victims of gunshot wounds. Police also confirmed the shooting of a neighbor’s dog during their response.
Officer Danny Chavez stated, “Dealing with homicides is not something we have to do very often. That’s always very unfortunate. An armed disturbance always gets your attention.” He added that officers heard gunfire while responding to the scene.
Neighbors reported hearing gunshots and noted that such incidents are rare in their quiet neighborhood. One resident, Chris Zien, described the community as typically peaceful, stating, “It’s really shocking to have this happen.”
The investigation is ongoing, and Todd Donovan is being held on a bond of $2 million. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty by the Johnson County District Attorney’s Office.