1 dead, suspect arrested in Collier County shooting

A fatal shooting in a Collier County neighborhood was the result of a love triangle gone bad, said a witness.

According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, a shooting occurred in the 12000 block of Tamiami Trail East just before 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Detectives said the individuals involved knew each other, and the community was not threatened.

One person on the scene who wanted to remain anonymous said they knew both the victim and suspect.

“Victim, I’ve known him since the sixth grade. Shooter, I’ve known him a little longer since we’re 5 or 6,” said the anonymous witness.

Crime tape wrapped around the parking lot, with blue and red lights flashing in every direction.

The witness said the shooting involved a girlfriend and an ex-boyfriend.

“As far as I know, there’s a girl, current girlfriend, one of them the shooter. The victim is the ex-boyfriend of the victim,” said the anonymous witness. “I guess they saw each other here, felt like doing something.”

Collier deputies investigating the crime scene confirmed the suspect and victim knew each other, but the anonymous witness said it was more than that.

“We’re all with the same middle school down the street, with each other,” said the anonymous witness. “We all have some connections towards each other. It’s a simple conversation but just handle it. But young people’s egos.”

He said it didn’t have to end this way.

“You guys don’t have to be buddy-buddy, you know, laughing at each other’s faces, but passed by each other. One has a child. You got one you were working with. It doesn’t have to go through this with your respective partners. You still go back and forth about going somewhere without coming back from.”

Beset by grief, he said all he can do now is watch from the sidelines.