Baseball game moved due to Fort Myers shooting

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FORT MYERS, Fla. –  Phillippa Mead had fun watching her nephew Hayden and the Florida Southwestern State College (FSW) baseball team take on South Florida State College at FGCU’s Swanson Stadium Wednesday night, but it wasn’t where the game was supposed to be played.

“(I got) a quick text, ‘It’s been changed and moved because of a shooting’,” Mead told WINK News.

The game was originally scheduled at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers, but the school decided to change venues at the last minute for safety reasons after a groundskeeper was shot outside the park Tuesday night.

“If it’s for safety reasons and they had to move it, I’m happy,” said Mead. “People are moving here in droves and we want it to feel safe for our kids, so a little unnerving. It’s kinda sad that it’s coming to this.”

Fort Myers Police Chief Dennis Eads says the groundskeeper called police after seeing a suspicious person looking in cars outside the park. Eads says the groundskeeper was in the middle of talking to an officer through a  patrol car window when he was hit by a bullet. Police say his injuries are not life threatening. Police are still searching for the shooter.

“Oh my goodness. That’s terrible, that’s absolutely terrible,” said Mead.

In light of Tuesday’s shooting, FSW sent the following statement to WINK News regarding future games at City of Palms Park:

There will be talks between the school, FMPD, LCSO and Lee County Parks. They are confident in the ability of all agencies involved.  The school will work with them to recommend  and implement additional safety and security measures. 

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