3 more arrests in Lehigh Acres shooting that left seniors critical

Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press
·3 min read
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The Lee County Sheriff's Office has made three more arrests, bringing the tally to six, linked to a Lehigh Acres shooting that sent two seniors to the hospital in critical condition.

  • Mia Dayanara Mejia Perez, 20, of Lehigh Acres, faces charges of riding as a passenger in a race competition. She remained in custody Thursday morning without bond set.

  • Timothy Lucas Gibson, 18, of Lehigh Acres, is charged with aggravated riot with a deadly weapon. He remained in custody Thursday morning without bond set.

  • Jairo Jaycee Zelaya, Jr., 22, of Lehigh Acres, faces charges of aggravated riot endangering a traveling vehicle and racing on the road. He remained in custody Thursday morning without bond set.

Their arraignments are set April 24, jail records indicate.

Prior coverage:LCSO announces three arrested after shooting critically injures Lehigh Acres couple

Restaurant Depot shooting:April arraignment date set for man accused in south Fort Myers Restaurant Depot shooting

Three other suspects, one of them a minor, were arrested Monday.

Armando Cruz, 17, of Cape Coral, faces 11 charges, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno announced during a Tuesday press conference. Deputies also arrested two others — Robert Moya, 19, of North Fort Myers, charged with rioting; and Saviok Wood, 22, of Lehigh Acres.

During a Tuesday press conference, Marceno said their forensics unit matched the fingerprints on the victims' pickup to track the suspects. The shooting happened about 4 a.m. Sunday when the couple was caught in the middle of a large gathering at an intersection.

Marceno said the victims were beginning their trip to Key West, towing their boat.

As they approached the intersection of Milwaukee Boulevard and Homestead Road, a car club blocked the intersection, gathered for a street race.

"A mob broke away from the larger group and surrounded the victims' truck and boat and began to hit, punch and kick the vehicle," Marceno said. "Several suspects jumped onto the truck and the boat."

Marceno said Cruz ran to the victims' window and fired a pistol, striking the two in the truck.

Deputies arrested Cruz on Monday.

Marceno said Cruz is charged with two counts of attempted murder; two counts of aggravated battery; one count of shooting into an occupied conveyance; one count of discharging a firearm in public; one count of a juvenile with a firearm; one count of occupied burglary to a boat; one count of aggravated rioting; possession of a firearm by a felon; and criminal mischief.

At the time, Marceno said the Sheriff's Office would continue to investigate "this horrendous incident," assuring more arrests.

What's the gunshot victims' condition?

Marceno said the husband was shot through the neck and requires more medical care, but is out of intensive care. His wife was shot in the chest and arm, according to a GoFundMe organized by the family. The victims are aged 74 and 70.

The Sheriff's Office said they couldn't release their names, citing Marsy's Law.

The fundraiser accrued more than $4,800 out of its $5,000 goal as of Thursday morning.

The victims' grandson, Cody Langford, said his grandmother is at home recovering with family while her husband remains at Gulf Coast Medical Center.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Twitter @TomasFRoBeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Lehigh Acres street racing shooting nets 3 more arrests