Early Monday morning, a shooting occurred in Fort Myers, Florida, leaving two people dead and 16 injured. The attack happened outside of Club Blu, a nightclub hosting a party for teens. Three people have been arrested in connection to the shooting.
The situation unfolded at around 12:30am in the parking lot which led to massive chaos around the scene. The shots ended as the gunmen fled the scene but continued to shoot at nearby houses as they drove off.
Syreeta Gary, mother of one of the kids in the club told Fox 4 News that her daughter was “dodging bullets and running and dropping between cars” as the shooter was firing.
One witness described what she saw as she stood in the parking lot across from Club Blu where the bullets were “spraying non-stop” and teenagers were frantically running towards her. She also witnessed one of the victims, who she saw had multiple bullets in him and was laying still on the ground.
Another witness told ABC News, “there was a little girl who also got shot and she was 13. One of the security guard’s daughter got shot, so I mean there was kids 13, 14, 15, 16.”
The victims ages range between that of 12 and 27 years old. Parents were reportedly picking up these young people at the time of the event.
Florida sources state one of the victims fatally shot as Ste’fan Strawder was only 18 years old, and the other as Shawn Achilles, who was only 14 years old. It is tragic for these children, who were full of potential, and their families, who are currently mourning.
Many others are still in the hospital with injuries ranging from “minor to life threatening,” according to a spokesman.
Three people have been arrested so far in connection to this brutal attack. Although police do not know the motives behind the shooting, they believe it is not terrorist related.
Club Blu, the venue that held the event posted on Facebook this morning in reaction to the events:
“We are deeply sorry for all involved. We tried to give the teens WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A SAFE PLACE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME. Ages 12-17. There was armed security as well as full security,inside and out. As the club was closing and parents were picking their children up…..that’s when all this took place. There was nothing more we could of done az you see it was not kids at the party that did this despicable act. Our condolences to all parties involved.”
The area was on high alert after the time of the shooting, but police have now declared the area as safe again.
This happens just a month after the tragic Orlando, Florida shootings, which occurred in June.