Authorities in Fort Myers, Florida, said a shooting at a swimsuit-themed party for teens, which left two dead and at least 16 others injured, was not terrorism-related.
As police investigate the shooting, which broke out around 12:30 a.m. Monday in the parking lot of a Fort Myers nightclub, they identified the two individuals who were killed as 18-year-old Stef’an Strawder and 14-year-old Sean Archilles.
The Fort Myers Police Department is still working to determine a motive in the shooting, but in a brief update issued Monday morning officials said that “this incident is not an act of terror (as it has been referred) or terrorism.”
A statement posted Monday on the Facebook page of the nightclub, Club Blu, said the shooting happened as parents were arriving to pick their children up from the party and that armed security had been present at the event.
“We are deeply sorry for all involved,” the statement read. “We tried to give teens what we thought was a safe place to have a good time.”
Three people remained hospitalized Monday morning, Cheryl Garn, a spokeswoman for Lee Memorial Health System, said in an email. All others were treated and released.
SEE ALSO: 2 killed, as many as 17 shot at nightclub in Fort Myers, Florida: Authorities
Two people brought to two other area hospitals were also treated and released, she said.
Ages of the patients ranged from 12 to 27, Ms. Garn said.
The club is in a strip mall that includes a daycare center and is across the street from a large apartment complex. Officers had the area taped off as crime scene technicians scoured the strip mall parking lot for clues.
“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,” Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement. “We will continue to pray for the victims and their families.”
Syreeta Gary told WFTX-TV her daughter ran and dodged bullets to avoid being shot. Her daughter was OK, but her daughter’s friend “got hit in the leg and luckily it’s just her leg,” she said.
“Her dodging bullets and running, dropping in between cars, it’s ridiculous that these kids have to go through this,” Ms. Gary said. “They can’t enjoy themselves because you have other people that have criminalistic minds and they just want to terrorize things.”
State records online show the alcohol license for Club Blu was revoked on June 7. The records from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation say the license was revoked because of an incident that occurred a year ago, but there are no additional details available. The same records also show that a complaint was filed in 2014 for “criminal activity” and that the club was given an official notice.
Officials were expected to provide further updates on the investigation later Monday.
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.