Lawyers claim fatal shooting in downtown Lexington was a ‘tragic accident’
Lawyers for a man on trial for murder claim the 2023 shooting in downtown Lexington was a “tragic accident” that followed a confrontation between strangers.
Scott Lawless, 34, is on trial this week, two years after a shooting that left a 35-year-old Owensboro man dead during a night out with friends.
Tucker Richardson, one of Lawless’s attorneys, said Monday his client was trying to de-escalate a fight involving his friends and Kevin Van Huddleston Reel.
Reel was acting “bizarre and aggressive” toward Lawless and his friends before he was shot, Richardson told jurors Monday during opening statements.
Lawless and Reel did not know each other, the lawyer said, but came in contact outside a bar parking lot on North Limestone and North Upper Street, attorneys said.
Reel was shouting homophobic slurs and making comments about nihilism, Richardson said, and he had alcohol and cocaine in his system.
The situation escalated, and Reel shoved one of Lawless’s friends and began swatting at Lawless, who was holding a .357 revolver.
Reel was shot once in the abdomen, said Mackenzie Collins, an assistant commonwealth attorney.
In his own words, during a recorded 911 call, Lawless said Reel was in a “shoving match” with another man.
Reel was pronounced dead at Limestone and Upper, across the street from the courthouse. Lawless was charged with murder a few days later.
“The defendant made a choice to escalate an argument to lethal violence,” Collins said.
Richardson said the “gun discharged” and was an accident that occurred during a fight.
“(Lawless) maintains to this day he is not guilty,” Richardson said.
The trial began Monday with jury selection and opening statements. The trial is expected to last four days.
