After arrests in Andrew Faust case, a 'great day' in Fort Myers

City council member Johnny Streets called Tuesday a "great day for the city of Fort Myers" in the wake of the arrest of two men believed to be responsible for the death of 5-year-old Andrew Faust Jr.

On October 13, Andrew was shot inside a Cuba Street home where he was living. He died at the hospital from his wounds.

Streets and other city council members, the mayor, community activist and former NFL player Earnest Graham and Fort Myers police officers were among those at a press conference Tuesday morning held the day after the arrests.

Terrance Irons, 31, and Thomas Edison,34,are being charged with second-degree murder.

The pairwerearrested around 7:45 p.m. Monday at a Henderson Avenue homeless a mile away from the scene where Andrew died, according to a Fort Myers police report. Edison's address in the report is on Diana Avenue, which is about three miles away from Cuba Street.

A witness stepping forward was important leading up to the arrests, Fort Myers Police Department Chief Doug Baker said. The witness gave a "detailed, straight-forward" account of what happened the night Andrew was killed.

Baker said the witness would be eligible for the $37,000 reward, should a conviction come from the arrests. The witness could also be relocated for their safety, he added.

Baker gave few other details surrounding the case. He did not disclose what type of gun, a motive for the shooting or who the intended target was, among other aspects. The investigation is still in its "infantile" stages, Baker added.

He did say Andrew was not the intended target and police know who was.

Irons and Edison have long criminal histories, something that was not lost on Baker. "The judicial system is what it is," he said. "Is it frustrating? Sure." Even after 29 years in law enforcement, Baker said he sometimes doubts the system and he understands why the community may as well.

The community cooperating with police was tops among Baker's talking points. If community members get involved, this is what can happen, he said. "If you don't, violent offenders will be walking the streets."

City council member Johnny Streets said the arrests have "taken some evil off the streets." While the problem of violence in the community still exists, Streets said, this arrest sends a message. "We're still on the battlefield," he said. "Maybe this will alert others: we're relentless."

Earnest Graham—who helped raise a portion of the reward money and has been outspoken in the community about the issue of violence—said the arrest is one step toward responsibility in the community.

As for the mother,ToyettaSimpson, Graham said he has been in contact with her and that everyone has gotten a "sense of closure" after the arrests.

Graham hopes the arrest can be the first in a "series of steps" that will be a turning point for the community.

SUSPECTS APPEAR IN COURT

ToyettaSimpson, the mother of Andrew Faust Jr., broke down and ran from the courtroom as the first of the two men arrested in his death made his first appearance Tuesday morning.

Thomas Edison, 34, and Terrence Irons,31,are both being held on $1 million bond for second-degree murder and four $50,000 bonds for other charges.

Family and friends of the two men also left the courtroom in tears, passing by Simpson.

Andrew's father asked the judge for no bond on ThomasEdisonbut Judge Andrew Swett said he could not legally do that.