Downtown Fort Myers safety concerns linger ahead of event-filled weekend

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FORT MYERS, Fla. – The streets of downtown Fort Myers are expected to be crowded once again as an event-filled weekend is underway, however there’s still something looming around and everyone is still talking about it–the Zombicon shooting.

“We’re ready to move on,” Pam Lemmerman, the owner of The Connection, said.

 “My remarks would be, come in and enjoy the city and experience what you came here to do,” Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson said.
Mayor Henderson says he believes we are not any less safe after the Zombicon shooting and he knows law enforcement is working around the clock to find the shooter.
Some local businesses say things just haven’t been the same since shots rang out nearly three weeks ago and thousands trampled their way to safety. However, most believe it was an isolated incident.

“Whatever event may be coming down here, anytime you have a lot of people congregated in an area like that, again, if somebody’s stupid they may do something,” Homer Gaines said.

Fort Myers police are asking people who may be in surveillance video from the night of the shooting to come forward.

“Be vigilant about stepping out against very poor behaving citizens that threaten our city and threaten our citizens,” Mayor Henderson said.

As the tourist season has already started and Art Walk, Taste of Lee, and a marathon are planned for this weekend, local business owners and the mayor want everyone to feel welcome.

“Hey we’re still here, we want you to come downtown,” Lemmerman said. “we want you to just be happy down here like we are.”

Mayor Henderson plans on holding a vigil on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church as a way to grieve and mourn the recent shootings as a community.

 

 

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