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2 dead, 16 injured in shooting outside a Florida nightclub

By Shawn Price and Allen Cone
The FBI and ATF are assisting local police in the investigation into the shooting in front of Club Blu in Fort Myers, Fla., early Monday morning. Screenshot courtesy of WINK.
The FBI and ATF are assisting local police in the investigation into the shooting in front of Club Blu in Fort Myers, Fla., early Monday morning. Screenshot courtesy of WINK.

FORT MYERS, Fla., July 25 (UPI) -- Two people were killed and 16 were injured in a shooting early Monday outside a nightclub in Fort Myers, Fla., that was hosting a teen night, police said.

Three people were detained in the five hours after the shooting and are being questioned, interim police Chief Dennis Eads said Monday morning. No other details were given.

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At least 30 shots were fired in front of Club Blu Bar and Grill around 12:30 a.m., police said.

The club had hosted a "Glow Party and Birthday Bash" for teens that night.

Club Blu co-owner Cheryl Filardi said the party was intended to provide a "safe place" for teens, and that the club had armed security guards both inside and outside.

"We are deeply sorry for all involved," the owners of the club wrote on Facebook. "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 as you see it was not kids at the party that did this despicable act. Our condolences to all parties involved. PRAY FOR OUR CITY!"

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Among those killed were Lehigh High School basketball player Stef'An Strawder, who was heading into his senior year and one of three finalists for The News-Press basketball player of the year award. Also killed was 14-year-old Sean Archilles.

Two victims are in the Intensive Care Unit, said Cheryl Garn, spokeswoman for Lee Memorial Health Systems.

Marshall Bland said his 23-year-old son Marshall Jr.'s stomach was grazed by a bullet, but that he was released from the hospital.

The youngest person wounded was 12. The oldest was 27.

Police did not announce a motive for the shooting.

The weapons involved were recovered, Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson said at a City Council meeting.

"As this kind of activity continues to emerge across our state and the nation and indeed the world, we remain ever mindful of the fact that we've got to do better in protecting citizens," Henderson said. "So you're going to see a substantial continued effort in that regard."

But he admitted the crime was spontaneous and therefore would have been difficult for law enforcement to prevent.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi traveled to Fort Myers today to meet with law enforcement officials.

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Last October, one person was killed and six others were injured after shots were fired during ZombiCon, a Halloween-themed event in downtown Fort Myers. No arrests have been made.

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