After tragedy struck over the weekend for two young men who were shot and killed Saturday morning in Alva, friends of the youngest victim are hoping the community can help his family deal with funeral and holiday expenses.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office arrested Elwood Timothy Robinson, 46, as a suspect in the shooting. Deputies believe Robinson killed Jeremy Stewart, 16, and William Hughes, 19, near Park Way and West Court Place after identifying himself to the young men as a police officer.
Cheyenne Colon said Jeremy Stewart was one of the finest young men she's ever known.
"He was a great kid," she said. "He worked every day to support his family, both his siblings. He has an eleven-year-old brother and a fourteen-year-old sister. He was really excited about Christmas because he was gong to be able to spoil them this year."
But Christmas will be tough for Stewart's family this year. Colon, who is the manager of the 2Bills Grill in Fort Myers, is helping to organize a benefit raffle on December 1 to help Stewart's family cover funeral costs - and provide Christmas gifts for his younger brother and sister.
"I'm just hoping a lot of people come to support Jeremy's family, help donate, help get him buried, and help his family with Christmas," Colon said.
Anyone who wishes to help with donations, or donate items for the raffle, can do so by dropping them off at 2Bills Grill daily after 3:00 p.m.
2Bills Grill is located at 4901 Palm Beach Boulevard, unit # 240, next to the Big Lots store in the Morse Shores shopping center in Fort Myers.
