Cape Coral restaurant reopens after drive-by shooting injured patron

A Cape Coral restaurant owner is thankful a drive-by shooting that injured a diner Wednesday night wasn’t much worse.

Hurricane Grill and Wings reopened Thursday after the shooting left a man sitting on the patio with a leg wound.

Dave Witker, the restaurant’s owner, is still shocked that someone drove by and fired shots, but he said he and his staff are ready to get back to work.

“This is just unfortunate. We’re trying to figure it out just like everybody else,” he said.

Late Wednesday, he got a call letting him know that someone opened fire and shot a patron eating on the patio.

“Oh my God, this is just the one call you never want to get. I can tell you that. My wife told me my voice was cracking. I said ‘oh my god.'”

The Cape Coral police report says witnesses heard three shots come from a silver sedan driving down SW Pine Island Road just after 10 p.m. The victim was shot in the leg and refused medical attention. He does want to press charges, though, police said.

Witker said he spoke with the man who was injured.

“He was fine. He got back on his motorcycle with his girlfriend and they left.”

Hurricane Grill and Wings wants to move forward. Customers were back on the patio Thursday, and Witker said he’ll keep it open but might add extra staff outside.

“I don’t believe in letting an isolated incident ruin or change all of your policies. We try to do the right thing overall and fingers crossed that this shouldn’t happen again.”

The Cape Coral Police Department hasn’t released any further information on the incident but did say they’re still looking for a suspect.