FMPD Chief Eads discusses Club Blu; Two lawsuits filed in case

Fort Myers police knew there was a party at Club Blu Sunday night and had unmarked cars in the vicinity for information gathering. They had no clue of the violence that would erupt as the "Glow Bathing Suit Party" revelers cleared out a little after midnight.

The mass shooting claimed the lives of Stef'An Strawder, 18, and Sean Archilles, 14, injured 17 others and generated two lawsuits filed Thursday with more expected, according to an attorney close to the case. Two victims are in serious condition and remain hospitalized, including Timothy Settles, who underwent surgery Thursday and remained sedated, according to his Facebook page.

Interim police Chief Dennis Eads said Thursday he didn't recall Club Blu being a trouble spot although he acknowledged some incidents there in the past and added the department was in the vicinity keeping an eye out for some local residents of interest.

Police urge those with Club Blu information to speak

"That's why I had some officers there in unmarked cars around the area, just to see if we could see anyone we could gather some intelligence or information about," he said. "If we would have had information even hinting at that there would have been several marked units sitting in the parking lot."

Eads said witnesses have filed reports and tips although eight complaints have been withdrawn from potential witnesses.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.

"We actually had a parent sign a complaint withdrawal for a juvenile at the hospital," he said. "If someone signs a complaint withdrawal there's not a whole lot we can do. If you're saying you don't want to pursue charges, you're saying nothing happened to you.

"It's very disheartening because a lot of these folks have given us complaint withdrawals in the past, and we know there's been a multitude of reasons why they did it."

Those reasons include being involved in criminal activities, looking for street cred by not cooperating with police or not wanting to potentially becoming a target for retribution.

Eads held out hope that some complaint withdrawals could be reversed.

"Being a witness to a violent crime is not being a snitch," Eads said.

14-year-old fights for life after Club Blu shooting

The FBI, ATF, Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Lee County Sheriff's Office have all been cooperating with Fort Myers police. The ATF is working to identify several weapons recovered that may be linked to the case.

Eads said he has also been in contact with former Toledo, Ohio, police chief Derrick Diggs, in line to become the city's next chief. "We talk on a regular basis," he said.

Fort Myers-based attorney Joseph North filed two suits on behalf of Strawder's family against Club Blu, the property Carroll Corners West and property management company IMC Equity on Thursday. The suits claim there was inadequate security and the party mingled teens and adults with no IDs necessary. One suit was a wrongful death suit for Stef'An and the other was for his sister, Sharrell, 19, who was shot in the leg.

The suit alleges there was prior knowledge of criminal activity at the premises and that Carroll Corners West and IMC Equity had “an obligation and duty to exercise reasonable care to protect the guests.”

The family is suing for a loss of support and services and companionship; mental pain and suffering; funeral expenses; and the loss of future net income for Strawder.

Mull: Don't let Club Blu victims Archilles, Strawder be forgotten

Cheryl Filardi, the owner of Club Blu, declined to comment. IMC Equity, which owns Carroll Corners West, did not return phone calls requesting comment.

Archilles' family retained Fort Myers attorney Dennis Webb and plan to also file a wrongful death suit. North said he and Webb are working together on the cases and a suit for Archilles could be filed as soon as Friday.

"First and foremost we want answers how this happened," North said.

The Fort Myers attorney also said a couple other families affected by the Club Blu shooting retained him on Thursday and more suits may follow.

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