Astin Kyle Edwards, a 28-year-old resident of South Los Angeles, tragically lost his life on January 4, 2019, in a shooting incident at the Gable House Bowl in Torrance, California. Edwards was at the bowling alley with his close friend, Robert Earl Meekins Jr., and was the godfather to Meekins' 5-year-old son. The incident began around 11:54 p.m. when a group of women started fighting, which quickly escalated to involve men and resulted in gunfire.
Seven people were struck by bullets, with Edwards, Meekins, and a third man, Michael Di'Shawn Radford, being pronounced dead at the scene. Edwards succumbed to gunshot wounds to the chest.
The Torrance Police Department, along with SWAT officers, arrested Reginald Leander Wallace, 47, two days after the shooting. Wallace was apprehended in Koreatown and later charged with three counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. The charges included special circumstance allegations of multiple murders, killing to further the activities of a criminal street gang, and using a handgun that caused great bodily injury and death. Wallace had a criminal history, including a first-degree murder conviction as a juvenile in 1989, and convictions for possessing a gun within a school zone in 1997 and assault with a firearm in 1998. He had spent 17 years in prison and was released in 2017.
During a news conference, Torrance Police Chief Eve Irvine stated that the shooting, which began as a fight between customers, escalated to involve as many as 15 people. The incident left the community in shock and mourning, as Edwards was remembered by his family as a kind and helpful individual who worked at Los Angeles International Airport. His father, Dwayne Edwards, emphasized that his son was not involved in gang activities and was always willing to help others. The tragic event highlighted the devastating impact of gun violence and the importance of addressing such issues within the community.
