Body camera footage played at trial shows aftermath of Lexington killing
A Lexington man on trial for murder this week told police he “hoped he would go his whole life without shooting someone,” as he was being arrested, according to police body camera footage.
Scott Lawless, 34, was arrested early May 28, 2023, after a shooting in downtown Lexington that left a 35-year-old Kevin Van Huddleston Reel, of Owensboro, dead after a night out with friends.
Lawless’ lawyers are claiming he was trying to de-escalate a fight between Reel and one of Lawless’ friends when their client’s gun went off. They called it an “tragic accident.”
Reel was acting “bizarre and aggressive” toward Lawless and his friends before he was shot, Richardson told jurors Monday during opening statements.
On Tuesday, during the second day of trial, prosecutors played police body camera footage of Richardson’s arrest.
“I told that cat to back up and stop,” Lawless said of Reel in the footage. “I was trying to get my buddy away from him. My friend doesn’t know how to fight, and didn’t want to see him get his (expletive) kicked by some drunk on a rant.”
Lawless appeared calm and cooperative with officers in the footage. At one point, he asked the officer to “pop a smoke in his mouth.”
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.
“He was shoving buddy, tried to fight for my gun, and so I put one in his belly,” Lawless told officers.
Reel died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
He continued to tell police he acted in self-defense, tried to render first-aid and called the police.
The trial began Monday with opening statements and could last until Thursday.
