Gut Wrenching, father confronts his son's killer in the courtroom

Lukace Shane Kendle is charged with murder in connection with a shooting outside Club Lexx, a Miami strip club also known as Club Rol-Lexx, on June 1, 2012. He was working as an armed security guard when he saw Kijuan Byrd and Michael Smathers sitting in a pickup in the parking lot. He told police he thought they were "rolling marijuana." Kendle told police that one of the men shouted that he was going to kill him. Then, he said, both car doors swung open, and he feared his "life was in danger" as he believed one of the men had a weapon. Kendle fired at least 12 shots -- eight times at Byrd, including at least four at his back as he crawled under the truck. Byrd was killed. Smathers survived the shooting but was paralyzed. No weapon was found. In an interview, Smathers said he and Byrd were taking a break from watching a basketball game in the club when they encountered Kendle. "And basically, we see the security, he sees us and there were no words even exchanged," Smathers said. "We never said a word to this guy at all. The only thing I remember was opening my car door, and him telling me to put my hands up. After that, I was shot." Smathers said he is now largely confined to his home, watching TV most of the day. Donald Byrd, Kijuan Byrd's father, said, "That's a hole in my heart, that's my baby. He's gone; he can't come back. I miss him, I miss him like crazy." Kendle had convictions for DUI and public drunkenness, but those offenses did not disqualify him from getting an armed guard license in Florida. However, according to records, he failed to disclose that he had been discharged from the Navy for several alcohol-related offenses. That could have disqualified him from being licensed.