3 Lee County shootings under investigation in 24-hour period

Reporter: Taylor Petras Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published: Updated:
Person of interest in investigation of shots fired at Fort Myers Beach. Credit: SWFL Crime Stoppers.

Three separate violent scenes broke out in a 24-hour period in Lee County. Shots were fired on a crowded beach, a man was shot in the chest hours later, and another man was found shot to death in his car.

Investigators hope members of the public have tips that can lead to justice for the cases they are working in Fort Myers and on Fort Myers Beach.

A crime scene between Central Avenue and Royal Palm Avenue in Fort Myers. Credit: WINK News

A man was found dead in his car on Central Avenue in Fort Myers, where there were still signs of gunfire Tuesday night.

Someone fired shots on a crowded Fort Myers Beach on Memorial Day Monday.

“It’s so sad that they have to bury a loved one with this crazy stuff that’s going on in our community,” said Angela McClary with Parents of Murdered Children.

A man was taken to the hospital Tuesday afternoon with a gunshot wound, Fort Myers police say. The shooting happened on South Street in Fort Myers. (Credit: WINK News)

McClary knows how it feels to lose someone she loves to gun violence. Nearly seven years ago, her son was shot and killed outside a home on South Street in Fort Myers, the very same street where another man was shot in the chest Tuesday morning.

Fort Myers police arrested suspect Robert Junior Colon, 23, later in the day, but at least two other shooters are still on the run from these scenes.

“Every shooting, every act of violence, it affects the community,” said Rich Kolko, WINK News Safety and Security Specialist. “It affects the police department.”

Kolko says officers will now focus their resources to where these shootings happened. He says a big part of solving these cases is having relationships with the people who live there.

That includes who is carrying guns, where they’re carrying guns, are there any arguments or beefs that are going on that could result in shootings. Then, he wants to make sure his officers are in the right spot to prevent that from happening.

Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers told us it’s received several tips about who the people of interest are from the shooting at the beach. Investigators are hoping one of those leads ends with an arrest.

McClary has one message for all the grieving mothers like her.

“For the ones that are doing it, please stop, and let our city heal,” McClary said.

Colon went before a judge Wednesday morning on charges of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon. His bond was set at $135,000. His next court date is July 6.

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