William Scott Smallwood, a 48-year-old male, was a cherished friend and a familiar face at Bungalow Joe's Bar and Grill in Louisville, Kentucky. He was so well-liked that the owner considered him the very first customer he had at the establishment. Smallwood was a fixture at the pub, and regulars knew there was a good chance they would find him there on any given visit.
His life was tragically cut short on the night of September 18, 2020, in what was described as a 'totally random' act of violence.
That evening, Louisville Metro Police officers responded to a call at the Beulah Church Road restaurant around 11:30 p.m. Inside, they discovered a scene of chaos and tragedy. William Scott Smallwood, along with two other men, Toreon Jermaine Hudson, 26, and Steven Matthew Head, 24, had been fatally shot. Smallwood and Hudson were pronounced dead at the scene, while Head succumbed to his injuries at University Hospital. The community was left in disbelief, with the owner of Bungalow Joe's questioning the senselessness of the act, stating there had been no altercation to provoke such violence. A memorial was soon created outside the establishment by community members to honor the victims.
Shortly after the shooting, just after midnight, police apprehended a suspect. Michael E. Rhynes Jr., 33, was found crawling in the brush near the restaurant. His clothing matched the description of the suspect seen on video footage, and he was in possession of a handgun. The ammunition in the handgun was of the same brand as the shell casings found at the scene of the crime. Rhynes was arrested and charged with three counts of murder. His bond was set at $2 million. He later pleaded guilty to the three counts of murder for the deaths of Smallwood, Hudson, and Head.
