Fort Myers shooting survivor talks about friend who died saving her life

Reporter: Michael Hudak Writer: Melissa Montoya
Published: Updated:
Ciara Lopez survived a shooting in Fort Myers after De’mari Jackson pushed her out of the way of gunfire. Jackson was struck and died. (CREDIT: Courtesy)

Ciara Lopez and De’mari Jackson were on-again, off-again girlfriend and boyfriend.

The friends of two years were together on Sunday when a shooting broke out on Franklin Steet in Fort Myers’ Southward Village community. The couple was on again on Sunday after Jackson stopped by to visit Lopez after his baptism.

Jackson’s bubbly personality earned him the nickname of “Bubbles,” Lopez said.

“If you’re sad he will make you happy,” she said. “He’s that type of person.”

But now, the 16-year-old is gone. His final action was to save Lopez, pushing her away from incoming gunfire and urging her to run. Lopez credits him for saving her life.

“I feel like he’s really not gone. I feel like I should go over there, go give him a hug, or sometimes I go around looking for him,” Lopez said. “It’s just very hard.”

Jackson, an “innocent bystander” was killed by a stray bullet, police said. Police say the person responsible for his death is 19-year-old Syncere Trice, a South Fort Myers High School student. The shooting happened after a fight between a group of girls, according to authorities.

Meanwhile, Lopez and Jackson were nearby, discussing their future together.

“We’re just talking about how he was supposed to ask my mom to take me out to a date and everything. That’s what we were talking about,” Lopez said.

Lopez said the two heard a fight break out nearby before they could finalize their plans.

Two girls in the middle of a large group were going at it down the street.

“I kind of like, looked up and the boy, I didn’t know if he pulled out a gun. Like it looked like something black,” Lopez said.

The two had purposely been trying to avoid the fight.

“All I remember is him jumping in front of me and him pushing me, telling me to run. I was confused as to why he was saying it … so he pushed me again, told me to run. We got into like the corner. And then right there. When we got onto the steps, he collapsed,” Lopez said.

Lopez cradled him on her lap. She said he was shot twice, near his lung and once in his back.

“I took off my sweater and decided to put his head on my lap and cover him and just start talking to him, tell him you need to stay with us. A lot of people love you,” Lopez said.

Jennifer Casto, Lopez’s mother, said she knows her daughter is alive thanks to a hero.

“I just want to tell his family that I’m so grateful that they raised a good kid to stand in front of my daughter. Anything they need, I don’t have that much but anything they need. They know where I live. Come to me. I’m sorry for their loss.”

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.