FORT MYERS, Fla. — A real-life horror scene unfolded in a festival full of fans of the “undead.”
A gunman is at large after fatally shooting one person and wounding five others late Saturday at a charity ZombiCon event in downtown Fort Myers, the Fort Myers Police Department said.
Expavious Taylor, 20, of Okeechobee, was killed and five others were shot on First Street shortly before 11:45 p.m., said Fort Myers police Lt. Victor Medico.
Taylor died at the scene, and four people were transported to Lee Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Medico said.
Investigators later discovered a sixth person received a graze wound from the shooting, but the person declined medical treatment.
“At an event that draws upwards of 20,000 people, we understand valuable investigative information may have been captured on smart phones by those who attended,” Medico said. “FMPD is asking that anyone who attended the event and may have captured vital investigative information on their smart phone to please call the police department.”
Event organizers released the following statement:
“The organizers of Zombicon, Pushing DaiZies, Inc. are deeply saddened by the news of what happened within the footprint of our event. We take the safety of our patrons very seriously and take precautions in hiring security and police officers for our annual event. Our prayers go out to the family members and individuals involved in the incident.”
It’s not known if the shooting was targeted or random, officials said.
Anyone with information on the incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 800-780-8477 or Fort Myers police at 239-321-7700.
WFTV
