Teens among casualties in Fort Myers club shooting
Florida has suffered its second mass shooting in a nightclub in six weeks, with the latest happening outside a club in Fort Myers.
The Fort Myers Police Department confirmed that two people have been killed and ‘at least 14-16’ wounded, with many of the casualties believed to be teenagers.
The two who died were 14 and 18 years old. Police say the attack is not believed to be ‘terror-related’.
The attack happened in the parking lot of Club Blu in Fort Myers at around 00:30am local time on Monday morning, at the end of a party for teenagers the club had been hosting.
A police statement said injuries "ranged from minor to life-threatening". Up to four people remain in hospital with serious injuries and the victims are reported to be between 12 and 27 years old.
Syreeta Gary, whose daughter was at the club, told the local Fox 4 news channel her daughter was "dodging bullets and running dropping between cars".
Club Blu released a statement on Facebook expressing its deep sorrow over the incident. It was hosting a Swimsuit Glow Party where no ID was required.
The statement said: "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."
Three people have been detained for questioning, according to police, who said they are ‘actively canvassing’ the area for other suspects.
The attack comes six weeks after gunman Omar Mateen killed 49 people and injured 53 others in the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, 150 miles away from Fort Myers.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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