FORT MYERS, Fla., - Court documents reveal new details in what led investigators to the Zombicon shooter.
Jose Raul Bonilla, is accused of shooting in a crowd of 20,000 people, killing Tyrell Taylor and injuring several others in the Fort Myers halloween themed event back in 2015.
New documents show numerous tips came in to Crimestoppers mentioning Bonilla’s name. The first tip naming Bonilla as the shooter came just a couple of weeks after Zombicon.
The tipster stated, “they saw Bonilla at the Zombicon event, then later heard him bragging about the shooting.”
Investigators then tried to locate Bonilla but couldn’t find him.
Four more tips tying Bonilla to the shooting surfaced in the months ahead.
Investigators eventually got a hold of Bonilla when he called them a month after the shooting. It’s unclear what was discussed in that conversation as court documents were redacted at this point.
Investigators also met with Bonilla while he was in jail facing charges for loitering and resisting arrest in May 2016.
Bonilla called the FBI again in December 2016 and also in January 2017.
Bonilla was in custody a total of 3 times since Zombicon.
Earlier this week, Bonilla confessed to investigators and was arrested for the crime.
Investigators have not yet identified a motive in the shooting.
However, what friends told investigators is shedding some light on this mystery.
A friend claims someone threw water on him moments before he heard the gunshots.
The friend also told FBI agents Bonilla was part of a rap group called, RNS. The friend says the group is not an organized street gang.
However, an informant close to Bonilla told FBI agents Bonilla is ‘in charge’ of a gang that commits robberies.
Investigators say Bonilla went into detail about the shooting to that informant and admitted to the informant he was responsible for the shooting at Zombicon.
Fort Myers Police say the investigation is ongoing.
