Two Zombicon victims will receive money after 2015 shooting
Fort Myers settled lawsuits Monday night with two people who were wounded during the Zombicon festival.
Kyle Roberts and Tyree Hunter, both 20 years old at the time of the October 2015 mass shooting, were unanimously awarded $7,499 each. The city settled its portion of the lawsuits, but litigation with the festival's organizers and security firm is still pending, City Attorney Grant Alley said.
“We have defenses, don’t get me wrong," Alley told council members. "But for this amount (of money) for victims who were shot, I’m recommending we settle this.”
Zombicon, a horror-themed block party in the heart of downtown, was one of the most popular celebrations in Southwest Florida, welcoming 20,000 people in 2015 for what was supposed to be a good time. But around 11:45 p.m., when the event was winding down, someone started firing into the crowd.
One man was killed, 20-year-old Expavious Tyrell Taylor, and six others were wounded. No arrests have been made. Fort Myers police Chief Derrick Diggs declined to comment on the investigation after the meeting.
Two other lawsuits are working their way through the system, Alley said, and the city could expect more to come.
A year later, questions remain for Zombicon victims
Roberts and Hunter did not return calls for comment.
The festival organizer, Pushing DaiZies, and the security firm it hired could be held responsible for most of the money awarded.
Two months after the shooting, city council members voted to cut ties with Pushing DaiZies after nine years of hosting the event downtown. Organizers decided not to host the event last year because of the lawsuits.
Fort Myers gives Zombicon the boot; will buy cameras
Angeli Chin, Pushing DaiZies spokeswoman for Zombicon, declined to comment on the future of Zombicon or Pushing DaiZies, and directed all questions to the attorney, Andrew Bruce, who also declined to comment citing the pending litigation.
The News-Press found the security firm, Southwest Florida Security & Investigations, had a history of regulatory sanctions — including fines for operating without a license, cease and desist orders and revocation of licenses — and may not have had enough guards working at the time of the shooting.
Jesse Morgan, the owner of Southwest Florida Security, said Zombicon 2015 "destroyed the business." With pending lawsuits against the company, he had trouble getting the insurance required to continue and was forced to shut it down, laying off 30 employees. But sanctions against security firms are not uncommon, he said.
Roberts' required surgery to his hand after the shooting, and his medical bills ran over $20,000, Alley said. Hunter had less than $4,000 in medical expenses. All told, the city spent about $15,000 to settle these two cases, but isn't about the money, Alley said.
"They were shot. I repeat, they were shot."
Zombicon Settlements
Kyle Roberts
*Pushing DaiZies: $20,000
Fort Myers: $7,499
TOTAL: $27,499
Tyree Hunter
*Southwest Florida Security & Investigations: $20,000
*Pushing DaiZies: $15,000
Fort Myers: $7,499
TOTAL: $42,499
*Pending litigation