Police urge those with Club Blu information to speak

A small but growing memorial inside a bullet-scarred concrete planter outside the Club Blu mass shooting scene on Tuesday contained stuffed animals, a Bible, flowers and notes of encouragement.

What local law enforcement would rather have people drop are tips to help find those responsible for killing teenagers Sean Archilles, 14, and Stef'An Strawder, 18, and injuring at least 17 others in the club's parking lot at 3580 Evans Ave. in Fort Myers early Monday morning. Three shooting victims remain hospitalized. Two are in critical condition, and one is in fair condition.

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Trish Routte, coordinator for Crime Stoppers, said the group has not received one tip in the Club Blu shooting but held out hope that some may still come forward.

“What happened yesterday morning at Club Blu completely rocked our community," Routte said in a statement. "Young lives, that held so much promise for the future, were senselessly taken.  Many others were randomly shot, leaving both physical and mental wounds. We are confident that there are people who have information on the shooters involved, and the individuals who had clear intentions to incite murder and mayhem that morning. They just, for whatever reason, haven’t come forward yet."

She said a "significant number of individuals" know information "pivotal to moving this case forward."

The Fort Myers Police Department reported at least eight complaints withdrawn from potential witnesses. Law enforcement agencies investigating a crime like the Club Blu case spend the time, effort and resources which can end up being for nothing if a victim or a witness decides to drop the complaint. Only the person who filed the complaint can withdraw it.

Due to the active investigation the exact number of complaints involved has not been released by Fort Myers police.

Capt. Jim Mulligan said there were more witnesses at the scene and victims in the hospital who refused to speak with police.

The present plea for witnesses mirror similar requests that  have come in other recent high-profile cases including the mass shooting at the Zombicon event in October 2015 and the Andrew Faust shooting in 2014.

On Oct. 17, 2015, as a crowd of thousands were celebrating the horror-themed annual Zombicon event in downtown Fort Myers, shots rang out leaving a 20-year-old Okeechobee man dead and five others injured. Despite pleas from law enforcement officials in Fort Myers and Lee County and the ensuing investigation, the shooter remains at large.

Five-year-old Andrew Faust Jr. died on Oct. 13, 2014, after a stray bullet hit and killed him while he was inside his Cuba Street home. Fort Myers police said the bullet was not meant for Andrew; they do know who the target was.Two men arrested for the shooting were eventually released from jail after a failed deposition with the sole witness in the trial.

"There have been some Zombicon updates, so that’s a good thing. That case is absolutely moving forward," Routte said. "Faust… not so much.  Although I would love to see something new come in on that.

"It’s unfortunate, but you know that as time passes, people tend to forget about cases. I’ll lean on my mantra of 'It’s never too late to do the right thing.'”

Archilles' aunt, Nadege Pierre, said she is not surprised by the lack of cooperation.

"This is Fort Myers," she said. "People don't come forward. They don't do nice things. No one helps."

Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of $1,000 for information on suspects, motives, or "even second hand information" on the night of the shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).  All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 from Crime Stoppers and $20,000 from the Fort Myers Police Department and the FBI.  Tips may also be made online at southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by texting a tip to CRIMES (274637) Keyword: REWARD.

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Lawsuit filed

On Tuesday, Joseph R. North of Fort Myers-based North Law Firm sent letters to Club Blu and Carrell Corners West, the property owned by IMC Equity Group where the restaurant sits, citing the intent to sue for wrongful death and negligence of security on behalf of Stef'An Strawder's parents Stephanie White and Sylvester Strawder.

North's impending lawsuit will claim the restaurant and property did not provide legal safeguards during the teen event, promoted as a "Swimsuit Glow Party," which took place on Sunday night and required no identification.

"The security there did not work," North said. "But also, we do not understand why they put on a party where it was promoted no one needed an ID. They almost encouraged grown people to mingle with children, which was not a good mix.

"This case, like a lot of cases I have against property owners, is with the goal of making our community safer overall," North said. "There is a lot that property owners can do to prevent these tragedies from happening."

North, a Cypress Lake graduate of 1983, is a close family friend of White and Strawder, having graduated from the same high school. He previously handled a civil case for Lehigh Senior High basketball players and parents when a derogatory rap video resulted in the suspension of nine players in February.

North said he hoped for a resolution.

Persons of interest

Three men arrested during a forced traffic stop shortly after the shooting at the club had their first appearances in Lee County court Tuesday.

Tajze Battle, 22, has since been released on $3,500 bond, while Derrick Church, 19, and 22-year-old Demetrius O'Neal remain in Lee County Jail.

All three have been named persons of interest in the case by interim Fort Myers police Chief Dennis Eads.

O'Neal and Battle from Fort Myers fled the car but were caught and charged with resisting arrest. They will be arraigned Aug. 16. O'Neal remains in custody on $5,000 bond.

Church of Lehigh Acres was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest and remains in custody on $100,000 bond. His arraignment is Aug. 29. Church, the driver, was charged after he accelerated toward a Lee County Sheriff's Office deputy and the deputy fired his handgun striking Church in the abdomen.

Church was treated at a hospital and released.

The three were arrested by the Lee County Sheriff Office Monday morning after their car was spotted near Club Blu. When a Fort Myers police officer tried to pull them over they fled. A deputy picked up the pursuit and used a force maneuver at Ortiz Avenue near Luckett Road to finally stop the car.

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In court records Church and Battle have recent traffic infractions. Church was cited for failure to obey a traffic control device and Battle was cited for speeding. Battle also has two sealed juvenile cases, from 2011 and 2009.

The shooting scene

With most of the national media gone, activity at the Carrell Corners West Plaza was reduced to local news crews, those working at various stores and cadets from the Southwest Florida Public Service Academy who scoured the property looking for more evidence.

Julie Lang, her daughter-in-law Kelly Swain and granddaughter Marilyn came several times Tuesday to the club's memorial to place items for the dead and the injured.

"It needs to stop," Lang said. "We have to pull together as a community."

Lang's family lives near the club. The edge of their house is within a gunshot's distance.

TOGETHER Fort Myers fund to aid Club Blu victims

"One of those shots could have hit our house," Swain said. "It could have hit my daughter."

Lang and Swain said they heard the shooting Monday but didn't know what it was.

"This area needs to be patrolled more," Lang said.

The women said they knew the two dead teens, Strawder and Archilles, through church activities.

Lang had words for those who might have been responsible: "I hope you get what you deserve."

Connect with reporters Michael Braun at MichaelBraunNP (Facebook) @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter) and Melissa Montoya at MelissaMontoyaO (Twitter)

HOW TO HELP

In response to the shootings at Club Blu in Fort Myers, 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 assist the victims, families and those affected by this tragedy.

One hundred percent of funds donated will be used to provide support services to those affected.

“There has already been a tremendous outpouring to our City from across the country sharing their thoughts and prayers and wanting to know how they can help,” said Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson  “We hope people will help their neighbors in this time of need.”

Donations to the TOGETHER Fort Myers fund can be made by visiting floridacommunity.com.

“Just like the fund we opened following Hurricane Charley, we are reaching out to our community to help Fort Myers heal by making donations to assist the needs of these victims, their families and those touched by this horrific tragedy on our youth, ” said Sarah Owen, president and CEO of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation.  “We will work with our community partner United Way to distribute funds to those impacted by the crisis.”