Robert Earl Meekins Jr., a 28-year-old man from Torrance, California, tragically lost his life on January 4, 2019. Meekins was at the Gable House Bowl, a popular bowling alley located at 22501 Hawthorne Blvd., when a fight broke out among a group of women. The altercation quickly escalated, involving several men, and ultimately led to gunfire. Meekins, along with his close friend Astin Kyle Edwards and another man, Michael Di'Shawn Radford, were attempting to break up the fight when they were
shot. Meekins sustained fatal gunshot wounds to his right arm and chest and was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after midnight on January 5, 2019.
The incident resulted in a total of seven people being struck by gunfire, with four survivors being taken to the hospital. The chaotic scene at the bowling alley was described as involving around 15 people, with the shooter indiscriminately firing into the crowd. Meekins, who was known for his hardworking nature and dedication to his family, had no prior involvement with gangs or criminal activities. His death left a significant impact on his community, particularly his young son and other family members who remembered him for his contagious smile and stylish demeanor.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Torrance police launched an intensive investigation. On January 6, 2019, just two days after the incident, Reginald Leander Wallace, a 47-year-old man, was arrested in connection with the shooting. Wallace was apprehended by Torrance police investigators and SWAT officers in Koreatown. He was subsequently charged with three counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. The charges against Wallace included special circumstance allegations of multiple murders, committing the crime to further the activities of a criminal street gang, and using a handgun that caused great bodily injury and death.
Wallace's criminal history revealed a pattern of violent behavior, including a conviction for first-degree murder as a juvenile in 1989, possession of 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 Wallace appeared to be the sole shooter in the incident. The case against Wallace proceeded through the legal system, with significant attention from both the media and the community, as it highlighted ongoing concerns about gun violence and public safety in the area.
