Anyone wanting access to counseling services can dial 211 or 239-433-3900. Police, who initially referred to the men as “persons of interest”, had not released a motive for the nightclub rampage Tuesday.
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Sarah Owen of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation said the community was seeking donations and assistance much like it did after Hurricane Charley struck the area in 2004.
Sean Archilles, 14, and Stef’An Strawder, 18 were killed amid a hail of bullets that also injured at least 17 others during a shooting at Fort Myers’ Club Blu on Evans Avenue early Monday morning.
With the Orlando massacre at the Pulse nightclub still fresh on her mind, White had advised her 18-year-old son, Stef’an Strawder, on what to do if there was a shooting: “Hit the floor, find a table”. Two people were taken into custody for questioning, while a third was detained about six miles northeast of the club.
“The staff and students at Royal Palm School were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Sean Archilles”, Principal Robert Morretti said in a prepared statement released by school officials. When asked Monday about those comments in the wake of this latest mass shooting, Scott said: “I support the Second Amendment”. The occupants of the vehicles appeared to be helping an injured person out of one of the cars, according to police. Church, the driver, was charged after he accelerated toward a Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy and the deputy fired his handgun striking Church in the abdomen.
The officer attempted a traffic stop using emergency lights and siren, but the vehicle fled. Two others were killed, local station WINK-TV reported, quoting police as saying.
Church was transported to the hospital for treatment, then taken into custody.
Church faces charges of assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer, and fleeing and eluding arrest.
Authorities later tracked down O’Neal and Battle and charged them with resisting without violence. “These days in Lee County, somebody’s always shooting”, Filardi said. O’Neal remained behind bars on Tuesday with a $5,000 bond, while the sheriff’s office released Battle after he paid a $3,500 bond, the News-Press of Fort Myers reported. His bond was set at $100,000.
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“We are confident that there are people who have information on the shooters involved, and the individuals who had clear intentions to incite murder and mayhem that morning”, said Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers coordinator.
