Marc Hess, a White man who was a father and a local musician, was killed in a shooting on the evening of Sunday, March 2, 2025. Friends described him as an avid drummer and a kind, happy person. “He was just a really happy guy,” one friend recalled. “Willing to help anyone, loved the animals, loved the birds.”
The incident occurred around 9:00 p.m. at the Club Glades bar in the Redlands area of southwest Miami-Dade. According to witnesses and authorities, a verbal argument broke out over a spilled drink involving a customer, 62-year-old Paul Edward Koch. After the confrontation, Koch was escorted out of the establishment. He then walked to his car, retrieved a semi-automatic handgun, and returned to the bar.
When confronted again, Koch opened fire. He fatally shot Eduardo “Eddie” Perez, a bartender at the club. Koch then moved to the outdoor patio area, where he shot and killed Hess, who had gone to the bar to enjoy the live music.
Investigators later confirmed that neither Hess nor Perez was armed and that they had not provoked the shooter. During the ensuing chaos, a third individual attempting to flee accidentally shot himself in the leg with his own firearm and was transported to a hospital.
Patrons at the scene reportedly restrained Koch until police arrived. He was taken into custody without further incident, and investigators recovered his handgun. Surveillance video from the bar captured the altercation and the shooting.
Paul Edward Koch was arrested and charged with two counts of murder. He appeared in bond court and was ordered to be held in custody without bond. As of the latest reports, Koch remains in custody, with a trial scheduled for May 27.
