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Shooting at Nightclub in Fort Myers, Florida, Leaves 2 Dead and at Least 16 Hurt Shooting at Nightclub in Fort Myers, Florida, Leaves 2 Teenagers Dead and at Least 16 Hurt
(35 minutes later)
MIAMI — Two people were killed and at least 16 were wounded in a shooting early Monday at a nightclub that had been hosting a party for teenagers in Fort Myers, in southwestern Florida, the authorities said. Fort Myers, Fla. — Two teenagers were killed and at least 16 others were wounded in a shooting early Monday at a nightclub that had been hosting a party for young people in Fort Myers, in southwestern Florida, the authorities said.
Police officers were called to the nightclub, Club Blu, in a palm-tree-lined strip mall just south of City Hall, about 12:30 a.m. Monday. They arrived to find “several victims suffering from gunshot wounds” in the club’s parking lot, Capt. Jim Mulligan of the city’s Police Department said in a statement.Police officers were called to the nightclub, Club Blu, in a palm-tree-lined strip mall just south of City Hall, about 12:30 a.m. Monday. They arrived to find “several victims suffering from gunshot wounds” in the club’s parking lot, Capt. Jim Mulligan of the city’s Police Department said in a statement.
The police said three people had been taken into custody and were being questioned. The police gave no immediate indication on a possible motive, but said it “is not an act of terror.” Residents of the neighborhood around the club said the area was stalked by drug-dealing and violence.
The authorities identified the two victims killed as Sean Archilles, 14, and Stef’An Strawder, 18.
A family friend said on Monday that Mr. Strawder, who went by the nickname “Dee,” was an incoming senior and star basketball player at Lehigh Senior High School who aspired to play college ball.
“He was like a son to me,” said the friend, Blanca Figueroa, 40. “He was a great kid, always was playing. He never would get tired.”
Jermaine Wilson, a witness to the aftermath of the shooting, said the parking lot had been filled with cars and loud music as the teenagers were departing the club. Then he heard gunshots and saw a person lying on the ground, bleeding, he said.Jermaine Wilson, a witness to the aftermath of the shooting, said the parking lot had been filled with cars and loud music as the teenagers were departing the club. Then he heard gunshots and saw a person lying on the ground, bleeding, he said.
“I saw everybody running,” said Mr. Wilson, 32, adding, “a bunch of people were screaming names.”“I saw everybody running,” said Mr. Wilson, 32, adding, “a bunch of people were screaming names.”
Captain Mulligan said the police were trying to determine a motive for the shooting. The authorities were also searching two other sites in the city — one on Parkway Street, where a home and several vehicles were shot at, with one person injured, and another on Ortiz Avenue. By late Monday morning, the Police Department said the area was deemed safe.
“The scene is still very active as investigators and crime scene personnel attempt to determine what had occurred,” he said.
The authorities were searching two other sites in the city — one on Parkway Street, where a home and several vehicles were shot at, with one person injured, and another on Ortiz Avenue.
The Police Department, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, were “actively canvassing the area looking for other persons who may be involved in this incident,” Captain Mulligan said.
Victims, ages 12 to 27, began arriving at Lee Memorial Hospital around 1:30 a.m., according to Cheryl Garn, a hospital spokeswoman.Victims, ages 12 to 27, began arriving at Lee Memorial Hospital around 1:30 a.m., according to Cheryl Garn, a hospital spokeswoman.
“Sixteen people were treated in the trauma center and emergency department,” she said in a statement. “One victim expired at the hospital.”“Sixteen people were treated in the trauma center and emergency department,” she said in a statement. “One victim expired at the hospital.”
The News-Press, a local newspaper, reported that one of the two victims killed was Stef’An Strawder, a high school senior and basketball player.
Four victims remained at Lee Memorial, one in critical condition, while the others were treated at the hospital and released. Two additional patients were released from other hospitals, officials said.Four victims remained at Lee Memorial, one in critical condition, while the others were treated at the hospital and released. Two additional patients were released from other hospitals, officials said.
A flier promoting the party said that Club Blu, in the Carrell Corners strip mall, was hosting a Swimsuit Glow Party with live performances on Sunday evening, and that no identification cards would be required. Gov. Rick Scott of Florida said in a statement that he would travel to Fort Myers later Monday.
“While we are still learning the details about what happened this morning, we know that some of the victims of this terrible incident were children,” Mr. Scott said. “We will continue to pray for the victims and their families.”
As the sun rose in Fort Myers early Monday, the police were maintaining a half-mile perimeter around the nightclub. Yellow markers were placed next to dozens of shell casings scattered on the venue’s parking lot.
A flier promoting the party the night before said that Club Blu, in the Carrell Corners strip mall, was hosting a Swimsuit Glow Party with live performances, and that no identification cards would be required.
A statement early Monday on the club’s Facebook page described the gathering as a party for young people. It said the shooting erupted only after the event had ended, as teenagers were leaving the club and parents were arriving to pick them up.A statement early Monday on the club’s Facebook page described the gathering as a party for young people. It said the shooting erupted only after the event had ended, as teenagers were leaving the club and parents were arriving to pick them up.
“We are deeply sorry for all involved,” the statement said. “We tried to give the teens what we thought was a safe place to have a good time.”“We are deeply sorry for all involved,” the statement said. “We tried to give the teens what we thought was a safe place to have a good time.”
It added, “It was not kids at the party that did this despicable act.”It added, “It was not kids at the party that did this despicable act.”
State records show that the Florida authorities revoked Club Blu’s retail beverage license last month. It was not immediately clear why it faced official discipline. The nightclub cultivated an image that often veered from homespun to risqué.
As the sun rose in Fort Myers early Monday, the police were maintaining a half-mile perimeter around the nightclub. Yellow markers were placed next to dozens of shell casings scattered on the venue’s parking lot. It is a place that advertises its “New Orleans style soul food” and $6.99 lunch specials. Just last week, the club was promoting a meal of pork chops with rice, macaroni and cheese, lima beans, cornbread and pink lemonade.
Local news outlets described a chaotic scene at the nightclub hours earlier. But other advertisements depict the club as a racy hotspot of scantily clad women, blaring music and flowing liquor.
One woman, Syreeta Gary, said that her daughter had dodged bullets, but that her daughter’s friend had been shot in the leg as they fled the club. “I just thank God that my daughter is O.K. because she could’ve been shot,” she said in a video posted on Twitter by Malcolm Johnson, a reporter with Fox 4, a news station in Fort Myers. “Her dodging bullets, running, dropping between cars, it’s ridiculous that these kids have to go through this. They can’t enjoy themselves because you have other people with criminalistic minds, and they just want to terrorize people.” The club staged a “grand re-opening” in May to debut what it described as an improved building. In a corner of an advertisement for the event, the club made a promise: “TIGHT SECURITY ALL NIGHT.”
A resident of the neighborhood around Club Blu, Patrick Mulligan Jr., said early Monday that the area had been stalked by shootings and drug dealing.
The attack occurred just 43 days after a gunman killed 49 people and wounded more than 50 others at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. The attacker, Omar Mateen, who took hostages at the nightclub and was killed in a police shootout, had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State.The attack occurred just 43 days after a gunman killed 49 people and wounded more than 50 others at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. The attacker, Omar Mateen, who took hostages at the nightclub and was killed in a police shootout, had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State.
The June 12 massacre in Orlando, which the authorities described as the worst mass shooting by a single assailant in United States history, stunned the country and spurred moves in Congress for tighter gun control.The June 12 massacre in Orlando, which the authorities described as the worst mass shooting by a single assailant in United States history, stunned the country and spurred moves in Congress for tighter gun control.
Fort Myers, about 120 miles northwest of Miami, has about 65,000 residents. Historically, it has been a winter destination; Thomas Edison and Henry Ford had homes there. The Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox have spring training there.Fort Myers, about 120 miles northwest of Miami, has about 65,000 residents. Historically, it has been a winter destination; Thomas Edison and Henry Ford had homes there. The Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox have spring training there.