Florida Nightclub Shooting: 'Not An Act of Terror,' Police Say

FORT MYERS, FL — A hail of gunfire in the parking lot of a night club in Fort Myers, Florida, left two people dead and more than a dozen wounded, as patrons ducked for cover behind cars and fled from the chaotic scene. While the investigation into the deadly rampage remains very much active, the shooting was not an act of terror, police confirmed Monday morning.

Investigators from the Fort Myers Police Department have said that two people were killed in the gunfire that erupted in the 3580 Evans Ave. club's parking lot around 12:30 a.m. At least 14 to 16 other people were hurt, Fort Myers Police said in a press release. Their injuries are described as ranging from minor to life-threatening.

Three suspects were taken into custody in connection with the shooting. Police have not released the identities of the people taken into custody, nor have they said if arrests have been made.

The identities of the people killed were released Monday morning. They are Sean Archilles, 14, and Stef'an Strawder, 18.

"The investigation is still very active as is the crime scene," police wrote in an update. "The Fort Myers Police Department would like to confirm that this incident is not an act of terror or terrorism."

Police say some of the victims who suffered minor injuries in the incident were treated a a local hospital and then left without speaking to investigators. "It is imperative that all persons who were involved with this incident come forward," the agency wrote in a media release.

According to a local hospital, victims ranged in age from 12 to 27. ABC7 posted a flier from the club advertising a swimsuit glow party that said no ID was required for entry.

In a post on Facebook, the club said the event was for kids ages 12 to 17.

"We are deeply sorry for all involved," the post said. "We tried to give the teens what we thought was a safe place to have a good time."

The club said there was armed security "inside and out."

"As the club was closing and parents were picking their children up.....that's when all this took place," the post said. "There was nothing more we could of done az you see it was not kids at the party that did this despicable act."

Two other crime scenes were connected with the shooting, according to police — one home where shots were fired, leaving one person wounded, and a separate location where a first person of interest had been detained.

Witnesses described to local news a chaotic scene during the shooting.

One told Fox4 that a man in the parking lot started yelling and opened fire, and clubgoers ran screaming from the hail of bullets.

"I couldn't believe we were in a live shooting," Juss Olivia, an apparent shooting witness, said in a Facebook Live video stream posted after the gunfire.

Syreeta Gary's daughter was at the nightclub during the shooting.

"Her dodging bullets and running and ducking between cars is ridiculous that these kids have to go through this and they can’t enjoy themselves because you have other people there who have criminal minds and they just want to terrorize things," Gray told Fox4.

"She was running away from bullets so she wouldn't get shot."

In the hours after the shooting, Fort Myers Mayor Randall P. Henderson Jr. issued a statement:

"We are deeply saddened by the shootings that took place in the City of Fort Myers early this morning," Henderson said. "At this time we are still working with law enforcement to gather information on these events. Investigators are working very hard to determine a motive and find answers to questions. Our thoughts are foremost with the victims — Sean Archilles age 14 and Stef’an Strawder age 18 — and their families."

Gov. Rick Scott cancelled his scheduled events Monday following the shooting so he could meet with local officials in Fort Myers.

"While we are still learning the details about what happened this morning, we know that some of the victims of this terrible incident were children," Scott said. "We will continue to pray for the victims and their families.”

Police have released no further information as of yet, including a possible motive.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Image via Shutterstock