Extra security present after shooting at City of Palms

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FORT MYERS, Fla.- The search continues for the suspect who shot a groundskeeper at the City of Palms Park during the Roy Hobbs Baseball tournament.

Fort Myers police say 25-year-old William Rodgers called authorities when he noticed a suspicious person looking into cars at the field Tuesday night. When he confronted the man, the suspect ran off.

After officers arrived on the scene to investigate, Rodgers was leaning into a patrol car to explain what he’d witnessed when the suspect returned.

A new police report shows the suspect fired four shots at the police officer’s patrol car, hitting Rodgers in the left leg.

The officer moved his car to protect Rodgers from any other gunfire and take care of his wounds. K-9s tracked a scent to Central Avenue, but police were unable to find the suspect.

The shooting led the Florida SouthWestern State College baseball team to move their Wednesday night game from City of Palms to Florida Gulf Coast University, but baseball players at the park say it won’t this stop them from taking the field.

“Every community has that challenge, it’s just another part of the sad side of our society,” said John Ihrig. “We feel very, very comfortable that the city of Fort Myers Police Department has done a great job.”

Police also say they found shell casings at the scene, the baseball tournament owner added extra off-duty officers to patrol the field.

Rodgers is in good condition at the hospital.

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