A person has been injured and a person is in custody after a large disturbance at Veterans Park along Homestead Road in Lehigh Acres on Monday afternoon. Lee County deputies responded as they said shots were fired into the air.According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, when deputies arrived on the scene, they brought the situation under control after families were sent scrambling for safety.”After I heard the shot firing, that’s when I ran to the car and I took my son to safety,” said Lucille Cavalini, a witness who was near the skate park with her children when she says she saw a group of 20 to 40 teenagers fighting and then suddenly run away after hearing loud bangs.Another witness described the scene as chaotic, with families scrambling to get to safety.”I seen people ducking down with their kids, little ones like 2 to 3-year-olds, because it was really close to the playground area,” said Lupita Rios, a witness from Lehigh Acres.Crime scene tape surrounded the Veterans Park playground, and a canine unit searched the field next to the splash park. More than a dozen Lee County Sheriff’s Office units were present, creating a perimeter as deputies shut down the area to investigate.”It was scary because I didn’t know if there was going to be any more shots fired. And I didn’t know, you know, how many kids had a gun? I had no idea. I just wanted to get out of there,” Rios said.Lee County deputies reported that one person was injured, though not by a gunshot wound. A suspect is now in custody, providing some relief to the community. However, Cavalini expressed her family’s decision to avoid the park in the future.”It’s bad enough for an adult to have to experience that, let alone a 7-year-old. So no, I will never go back there again,” she said.Veterans Park remains closed until further notice as the investigation continues.CORRECTION: LCSO previously told Gulf Coast News that no injuries were reported; however, in an update, the sheriff’s office stated one person was injured.This is a developing story and will be updated.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.
LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. —
A person has been injured and a person is in custody after a large disturbance at Veterans Park along Homestead Road in Lehigh Acres on Monday afternoon.
Lee County deputies responded as they said shots were fired into the air.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, when deputies arrived on the scene, they brought the situation under control after families were sent scrambling for safety.
“After I heard the shot firing, that’s when I ran to the car and I took my son to safety,” said Lucille Cavalini, a witness who was near the skate park with her children when she says she saw a group of 20 to 40 teenagers fighting and then suddenly run away after hearing loud bangs.
Another witness described the scene as chaotic, with families scrambling to get to safety.
“I seen people ducking down with their kids, little ones like 2 to 3-year-olds, because it was really close to the playground area,” said Lupita Rios, a witness from Lehigh Acres.
Crime scene tape surrounded the Veterans Park playground, and a canine unit searched the field next to the splash park. More than a dozen Lee County Sheriff’s Office units were present, creating a perimeter as deputies shut down the area to investigate.
“It was scary because I didn’t know if there was going to be any more shots fired. And I didn’t know, you know, how many kids had a gun? I had no idea. I just wanted to get out of there,” Rios said.
Lee County deputies reported that one person was injured, though not by a gunshot wound.
A suspect is now in custody, providing some relief to the community. However, Cavalini expressed her family’s decision to avoid the park in the future.
“It’s bad enough for an adult to have to experience that, let alone a 7-year-old. So no, I will never go back there again,” she said.
Veterans Park remains closed until further notice as the investigation continues.
CORRECTION: LCSO previously told Gulf Coast News that no injuries were reported; however, in an update, the sheriff’s office stated one person was injured.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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.