LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A man accused of shooting and killing three people inside a Fern Creek restaurant pleaded guilty to three counts of murder on Tuesday.
Prosecutors said Michael Rhynes killed Steven Head, 24, Toreon Hudson, 26, and William Smallwood, 48, inside Bungalow Joe's Family Grill and Pub in September 2020.
Michael E. Rhynes Jr. pleads guilty to three counts murder in the deaths of Steven Head, 24, Toreon Hudson, 26, and William Smallwood, 48.
(Courtesy of Louisville Metro Corrections)
Rhynes walked up to their table and shot them at point-blank range. The day after the shooting, the restaurant's owner told WDRB News that the men did not exchange words "at any point in time" before the shooting.
Rhynes was arrested shortly after the shooting after police found him crawling in brush near the restaurant, according to his arrest report. Police said his clothing matched the clothing of the suspect caught on video, and that he had a handgun loaded with several rounds that were manufactured by the same company that made the shell casings found at the scene. He was booked into Louisville Metro Corrections on a $2 million bond.
Hudson's family described him as "full of life and joy." His aunt, Martyna Buford told WDRB News they still don't know why Rhynes shot their loved one that night.
"It's just one of those things we have to learn to deal with and ask God to help us along the day. Every day is a new day to try to get over the anger and the grieving and things like that," said his aunt Martyna Buford. "We believe that vengeance does not belong to us, it belongs to God. Only God knows why things have turned out they way they have."
Buford said healing will take time and the family will continue to rely on their faith to push forward.
"It's something you can't put a timeframe on. I think we'll probably be in mourning for several years to come because someone so precious was taken from us," she said.
Without a plea deal, Rhynes was facing the death penalty or life without parole.
His guilty plea now means the case won't go to trial.
Prosecutors said they'll recommend a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. He is set to be sentenced in July.
"One side of me feels like we were kind of robbed a little bit and not knowing the motive as to why he did what he did. The other half is somewhat grateful that he's taken some accountability," said Buford. "We're comfortable knowing that he'll probably never see the light of day again, not as a free man he won't."
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