The TOGETHER Fort Myers Fund had raised over $10,000 by Tuesday afternoon, said Sarah Owen, president and CEO of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. All but four of the injured had been released from the hospital. They’ve detained three adults in connection and are searching for others who may be involved. They asked that any victims who left the hospital before speaking with police come forward to share any information they have. Almost 20 people were wounded.
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In a Facebook post, Club Blu described the gathering as a party for young people.
“We lost two teenagers”, Florida Governor Rick Scott told a news conference, raising the toll of injured to 20. He noted that the state is now seeing a 45-year low in the crime rate.
Syreeta Gary told WFTX-TV her daughter ran to avoid being shot. The event was billed as a Swimsuit Glow Party for all ages. “We make sure nothing’s going on in cars or anything that looks a little skeptical and if there is we recruit the need and help of local law enforcement to help handle any situations”. “An idiot with a firearm”. “Some of his friends got shot too”. Strawder, 18, was killed in the deadly shooting outside the Club Blu nightclub.
Cheryl Filardi said Monday that she was in the club’s back room when the shots rang out. She said the parties are something positive for a rough and often-violent neighborhood.
“He would always talk about how he wanted to be a basketball star”, said Yesenia Salbivar, who knew Sean for years.
Early this morning, two teenagers were murdered outside a nightclub in Fort Myers, Florida during a shooting incident that left at least 14 others wounded.
This article was originally published at 2:35 a.m. The mayor, interim police chief and sheriff are also scheduled to speak.
Fort Myers police were at two other scenes – a home about half a mile north of the club where two vehicles were shot up, and along a street about seven miles away. Police haven’t said whether the men were involved in the shooting.
Club Blu is located in central Fort Myers, within city limits.
The victims ranged in age from 12 to 27.
In a Facebook post early Monday attributed to Club Blu, the nightclub said it is “deeply sorry” and that “there was nothing more we could have done”. The message also said the club, which was closing when the shooting occurred, had armed security and other security measures inside and outside the club.
A Fort Myers fire fighter pours bleach over blood stains on the pavement at the scene of a deadly shooting outside the Club Blu nightclub in Fort Myers, Fla., Monday, July 25, 2016.
Police said the gunfire, which erupted at a swimsuit-themed party for teens, was not an act of terrorism.
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The slain teens were 14-year-old Sean Archilles and 18-year-old Stef’an Strawder, police said. Online records from the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation say the club’s license was revoked on June 7 because of an incident that occurred a year ago. The same records show that a complaint was filed in 2014 for “criminal activity” and that the club was given an official notice. It was not immediately clear what triggered the violence.
