NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — Three teenagers, ages 15, 16 and 17, are accused of throwing fireworks around Merchants Crossing in North Fort Myers, including one that set merchandise on fire outside a Dollar General.
Deputies were called to the shopping center Thursday night after several people reported teens throwing fireworks and starting a fire outside the store. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office says the fire caused about $110 in damage.
Surveillance video from the Dollar General shows the three teens outside the store. One teen walks toward the automatic doors, causing them to open. Another teen then lights a firework and throws it toward the entrance. It misses the doorway and lands in a display of pillows outside. Seconds later, the pillows catch fire.
The video shows customers and employees rushing over, moving the burning merchandise away from the building and helping put out the fire before it spread any further.
North Fort Myers resident Dannie Childers said he shops in the plaza and feels for the businesses that had to deal with the damage.
“You look around all the businesses, and a lot of them are struggling anyways,” Childers said. “Besides trying to fix up some kid’s stupid mistake of throwing fireworks and causing a fire, it could have been very seriously and deadly.”
Childers said the situation could have been much worse.
“We could have had a major fire,” he said. “Maybe it was just fireworks and they thought it was fun, but it’s not good. It’s definitely not good.”
Another North Fort Myers resident, Vanessa Torres, said she was struck by how quickly people stepped in to help.
“I actually really appreciated the community going and making that effort,” Torres said.
She said it was still unsettling to see.
“It’s very interesting how they’re basically putting the community in harm’s way, and that’s not safe at all,” Torres said.
The sheriff’s office says the teens kept moving through the shopping center throwing fireworks. Near the AMC theater, video showed another glowing object land near the front doors and burn for a few seconds before going out.
An AMC manager told WINK News nothing happened inside the theater.
An employee at Wang’s Asian Express also told WINK News the teens had been inside his bathroom and were seen walking back and forth between businesses, but he said they did not light any fireworks inside his restaurant.
Witnesses told deputies the teens then got into a maroon Toyota Camry, which was later identified as an Uber. Another person followed the car to the Crossings of Cape Coral community, where deputies later found the three teens.
All three are facing second-degree arson and criminal mischief charges. Court records also list a charge involving throwing or shooting a missile into a building for two of the teens.
The teens are expected to have juvenile court hearings in November.