2 women killed at a home in San Carlos Park; suspect ID’d and in custody

Two women of unknown age were shot and killed at a home in San Carlos Park on Thursday.

According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened on the 18000 block of Apple Road before 8 a.m. in what the sheriff is calling domestic violence.

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, a neighbor saw an altercation between Ethan Cartwright, 31, and the victims before the shooting.

Marceno said the man they have in custody first shot and killed a woman inside the house, then murdered another woman in a neighbors front yard.

Two young children were inside the home at the time of the first shooting but are now safe.

When deputies arrived, they say Cartwright was tased by deputies and then ran into a bedroom in the house before a hostage negotiations team was called in. He then gave himself up and came out of the home where he was arrested.

“I was woken up. I heard probably like two gunshots go off first,” said neighbor Courtney Demers, “My first thought was where is my gun because I want to make sure if anyone is coming near my house then I can keep my house protected.”

The two children who witnessed the shooting will have lasting impacts.