>> ENTICE SOME OF GULF COAST NEWS. >> BREAKING NEWS AT 5. THE MAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AN INNOCENT FISHERMEN IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS. AND THEN BEATING HIS CELL MATE TO NEARLY TO DEATH OF THE LEE COUNTY JAIL HAS DIED IN A PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT FACILITY. YANK A ROMERO WAS SENT THERE AFTER A JUDGE SAID HE WAS UNFIT TO STAND TRIAL GULF COAST. BUT THE CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER DAVE ELIAS. >> AS NEW DETAILS ON ROMERO IS DEATH. YEAH, WE JUST SPOKE WITH HIS ATTORNEY WHO TELLS US THAT HE WAS FOUND DEAD IN PRISON ALREADY IN JAIL. EXCUSE ME IN A PSYCHIATRIC WARD AS A RESULT. >> THE APPARENT SUICIDE. NOW THEY’RE INVESTIGATING. >> YOU A MERRILL WAS CHARGED WITH KILLING. 25 YEAR-OLD ALEX JOHNSON BACK IN JUNE NEAR THE ONLY SAYS TOWERS IN DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS WHILE BEING HELD AT THE LEE COUNTY JAIL. HE BRUTALLY BEAT CELL MATE. BRENT DIAZ TEARING OFF PART OF HIS NOSE IN CAUSING SEVERE EYE AND HEAD INJURIES. WHEN YOU THINK SHOULD USING ORIGINALLY DUE ANCHOR ROMERO WAS ALSO A SUSPECT IN A MURDER IN MICHIGAN. NOW THE MURDER AND BEATING CHARGES WILL BE DROPPED. HOWEVER, DIAZ WAS SUING THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CLAIMING NEGLIGENCE FOR >> PUTTING THEIR CLIENT INTO THE SAME CELL AS YANK OVER MERRILL. DESPITE HIS DEATH, THE CASE WILL MOVE FORWA
Yanko Romero, man accused of deadly Oasis Grand Boulevard shooting in Fort Myers, dies in custody
Updated: 5:16 PM EDT Sep 2, 2025
Yanko Romero, the man who was arrested for the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Alex Johnson in Fort Myers, has died, the State Attorney’s Office confirmed with Gulf Coast News.Romero was arrested in June for the deadly shooting near Oasis Grand Boulevard and Palm Beach Boulevard.While in the Lee County Jail, Romero brutally beat his cellmate, Brandt Diaz, shortly after he was taken there.In July, Romero was deemed incompetent to stand trial and was committed to a state hospital following the ruling.Romero’s attorney confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that his death is considered self-inflicted.Gulf Coast News has reached out to the Treasure Coast Forensic Treatment Center in Indiantown, Florida, for more information surrounding Romero’s death.If you or someone you know is in need of support or someone to talk to, the Suicide Crisis Lifeline is a call or text away at 988, or you can chat online here. The number is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.In Southwestern Florida, you can contact the David Lawrence Center at 239-DLC-HELP, 24 hours a day.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
FORT MYERS, Fla. —
Yanko Romero, the man who was arrested for the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Alex Johnson in Fort Myers, has died, the State Attorney’s Office confirmed with Gulf Coast News.
Romero was arrested in June for the deadly shooting near Oasis Grand Boulevard and Palm Beach Boulevard.
While in the Lee County Jail, Romero brutally beat his cellmate, Brandt Diaz, shortly after he was taken there.
In July, Romero was deemed incompetent to stand trial and was committed to a state hospital following the ruling.
Romero’s attorney confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that his death is considered self-inflicted.
Gulf Coast News has reached out to the Treasure Coast Forensic Treatment Center in Indiantown, Florida, for more information surrounding Romero’s death.
If you or someone you know is in need of support or someone to talk to, the Suicide Crisis Lifeline is a call or text away at 988, or you can chat online here. The number is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
In Southwestern Florida, you can contact the David Lawrence Center at 239-DLC-HELP, 24 hours a day.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.