DCF now involved in investigation of 6-year-old shot in Fort Myers

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The state Department of Children and Families is now involved in the shooting case of Malcolm Wilcox, 6, who was shot at a Fort Myers apartment complex Monday night.

“We will conduct a child protection investigation to ensure the well being of the children involved,” department spokeswoman Natalie Harrell said.

Malcolm was shot in the leg at the Landings at East Pointe Apartments on Nelson Tillis Boulevard just after 10 p.m. He was among a group of children and adults standing outside when a vehicle pulled up and started firing into the crowd.

Investigators could not provide a detailed description of the two suspects or their vehicle.

Detectives believe Monday’s incident is possibly connected to a night in September where multiple shootings were reported.

Malcolm’s mother, Jartravia Isom, and his five-year-old cousin, Tazyhion Matthews, were shot while sitting in a vehicle on Sept. 23.

The vehicle was sitting near the intersection of Dale Street and Veronica S. Shoemaker Boulevard when another vehicle pulled alongside and started shooting.

Malcolm was in the vehicle with his mother and cousin, but was not injured.

The shooting incident was one of four that night, resulting in seven people suffering gunshot wounds. Investigators believe three of the shootings, including the one involving Isom and Matthews, are connected.

Isom did not cooperate with detectives after she was shot in September, and didn’t provide much information after her son was shot on Monday, Fort Myers Interim Police Chief Dennis Eads said. Authorities believe the shooters in Monday’s incident were targeting a man Isom was with.

“I think everyone that gets shot at knows something happened,” Eads said.