Lehigh Senior High School senior Stef’An Strawder was one of two victims that were killed during a shooting at Club Blu in Fort Myers early Monday morning.
“What a terrible way to wake up this morning. Such a loss to so many. Family, friends, fans, teammates, teachers, coaches, all are crying and hurting. It’s hard to understand why this continues!’ by Richard Anglickis on his Facebook page.
Strawder, a promising high school basketball player at Lehigh Senior HS who had aspirations to play Division I college basketball said Former Coach Sawn McNew. Strawder died after being transported to Lee Memorial Trauma Center. He just turned 18 in June
According to his mother Stephanie White, Strawder’s older sister, Sharrelle, also suffered a gunshot wound to one her leg at the incident at Club Blu
According to McNew, Strawder was known as gym rat and his true being is what brought substance to Lehigh’s offense during a 19-8 season.
Per school stats he averaged 15.6 points, 5.5 assists and 2.8 steals per game. He was also a member of the Florida Future Elite 17U basketball team, in which he competed at the AAU National Championship Showcase Orlando over the weekend.
Interim Police Chief Dennis Eads said they have three persons of interest in custody and are still searching for more. Eads said the shooting was not an act of terror.
Governor Rick Scott said, “Following the horrific news of a shooting at a nightclub in Ft. Myers, I spoke with Ft. Myers Mayor Randy Henderson, Lee County Sheriff Mike Scott and Ft. Myers Interim Police Chief Dennis Eads to offer any assistance from the state. I have cancelled my scheduled events today to meet with law enforcement and local officials in Ft. 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. We will continue to pray for the victims and their families.”
Officials at Lee Memorial Health System held a briefing at 10:30 a.m. where they revealed there was a total of 20 victims.
One person died at the scene, and 19 were transported to Lee Memorial Hospital at the health system’s sister hospitals. One of those patients later died.
Lee Memorial Health officials said victims started arriving around 1:30 a.m. via ambulance and some in personal vehicles. The ages of the patients range from 12-27.
Sixteen people were treated at Lee Memorial Hospital, many of which have been released.
Four victims remain at the hospital. Two are in critical condition, and two others in fair condition.
Police said some victims were released from the hospital before providing statements to detectives. Those people are being asked to contact authorities.
Health officials said they are accepting blood donations as they are always in short supply, and it takes a tremendous amount of blood to save lives.
Monday’s mass shooting is the second one in Fort Myers in less than a year.
One person was killed and six others were injured in Oct. 2015 after shots were fired during ZombiCon.
The Southwest Florida Community Foundation has partnered with the City of Fort Myers and the United Way of Lee, Charlotte, Glades and Okeechobee Counties to open the “Together Fort Myers” fund to help those affected by the Club Blu shooting. To donate visit: www.Floridacommunity.com
Anyone with information on the shooting is urged to call Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).
I am especially pissed off with this incident. Once again our future has been taken away from us. This young man as I take it set a good example of what a good person in the Community should be. When one of our kids dies it not only hurts the family, it should and does hurt us all. These kids are our future doctors, police, engineers, etc. and we need to take a more personal position on these situations.
I would like to ask our good Sheriff to more properly respond to this horrible act and clean out the cancer that is festering in our Community. Perhaps a call to the Governor for a Crime Task Force is needed. If we cant even protect our children recreating with their friends, then what does that say about the future security of the rest of us in Lee County?