FORT MYERS, Fla. — It’s been a busy week for the Fort Myers Police Department. They’re investigating one shooting after another. Starting with a drive-by shooting Saturday that left one person dead on State Road 82 and Ortiz Avenue.
Then, Monday two people were shot at the Jones Walker Apartments just after midnight. Later that night, another person was injured in a shooting on Second Street.
Concerned by the seemingly nonstop violence, Councilman Johnny Streets wrote an open letter called “Silence is Betrayal.”
“We say that we love our brothers and sisters, but why are we killing them?” said Streets.
He applauded the nationwide peaceful protests against police brutality and racism.
“Let’s turn it around and say, you know, let’s have this “drive-by/stop the killing” rally. Let’s have this march to stop the violence and love one another,” he said.
FMPD released a statement Tuesday asking for community cooperation to make arrests.
This violence is unacceptable in our city and the police department and the community need to work together to put those responsible for this unnecessary and tragic violence in jail.
Streets, a retired FMPD officers says that community-police partnership is crucial to solving these cases.
“Then people want to talk about defund the police department. No. What do you think it would be like if we didn’t have law enforcement?,” said Streets.
He added this is the time for everyone to speak up, no matter your background.
“This is not a race thing. This is not just black people. But apparently we get noticed more than anybody else,” he said. “Let it be over. Let the dead rest in peace, for whatever that means. But let’s not continue the violence.”
Police are looking for a White Jeep Compass they say was involved in the SR 82 shooting, and a dark colored sedan believed to be connected to the Jones Walker shooting on Monday.
