Kevin Van Huddleston Reel, 35, of Lexington, Kentucky, was remembered by friends and family as witty, kind, and big-hearted.

In the early morning of Sunday, May 28, 2023, at about 2:40 a.m., Lexington police found Kevin in a parking lot at West Short Street and North Limestone with a gunshot wound. A nearby bar owner applied pressure with towels, but first responders pronounced him dead at the scene. Investigators identified 31-year-old Scott Lawless as a suspect; Lawless had met Kevin hours earlier at a restaurant during a job interview and the two were seen leaving together that night.

At trial in January 2026, Lawless’s defense said he fired accidentally while trying to de-escalate a fight; Kevin’s family said he was unarmed and had no chance to defend himself. The jury acquitted Lawless of murder but convicted him of second-degree manslaughter. In February 2026 a judge sentenced Lawless to 10 years, with credit for time served and no probation; Kevin’s family said the sentence did not offer enough justice.

If anyone knew Kevin, his movements that night, or the events at the restaurant and parking lot, please share information with the discussion.