In the early morning hours of March 5, 2026, a fatal confrontation unfolded in the parking lot of Wally's Poolhall in Lakeland, Florida. Inside the East Main Street establishment, 48-year-old Steven Michael Magee, a male patron and a regular at the bar, had been spending time, as had 34-year-old Kevin Lamont Reed Jr., who was accompanied by two women. The two men reportedly did not interact while inside the pool hall.
Shortly after midnight, Reed and the two women went outside, and Magee followed a few minutes later, around 12:28 a.m.
Outside the bar, a disagreement broke out between Magee and Reed. As the argument escalated, one of the women with Reed attempted to hold him back. Witnesses reported that Magee tried to de-escalate the conflict, backing away with his hands raised. Despite this, Reed followed and pushed him. Reed then turned as if he were walking away, but after taking a few steps, he turned back, drew a handgun, and fired multiple rounds at Magee. As he fell to the ground from the gunshot wounds, Magee managed to draw his own weapon and return fire.
First responders arrived at the scene shortly after 12:30 a.m. to find Magee unconscious on the sidewalk with several gunshot wounds. He was rushed to Lakeland Regional Health, but despite the efforts of medical professionals, he succumbed to his injuries. Reed had already fled the scene in a vehicle. Friends and family later created a makeshift memorial for Magee outside the pool hall, remembering him as a man who loved pool, poker, and the Green Bay Packers.
The Lakeland Police Department launched a homicide investigation, utilizing witness statements and security camera footage from the business. The investigation quickly pointed to Kevin Lamont Reed Jr. as the suspect. By 10:00 p.m. on the same day as the shooting, detectives located and arrested Reed at his residence. A handgun was found near Magee at the scene, and authorities located another firearm believed to have been used by Reed during his arrest. Reed was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and tampering with physical evidence.
