Lee County Sheriff confirms deadly shooting at Restaurant Depot in south Fort Myers

Tomas Rodriguez, Fort Myers News-Press
·2 min read

UPDATE: Suspect arrested, charged with second-degree murder in Fort Myers Restaurant Depot shooting

One person is dead and the suspect on the run after a Thursday morning shooting at a members-only chain store in what the Lee County Sheriff's Office says is an isolated incident.

Sgt. Christopher Fine, spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office, told The News-Press that no arrests have been made as of Thursday afternoon.

At least three witnesses have confirmed law enforcement responded to a report of an active shooter at a U.S. 41 grocer, Restaurant Depot, 18911. S Tamiami Trail #17, Fort Myers, which specializes in restaurants.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office reported on Twitter that detectives and deputies were on scene, calling it "an isolated incident and all parties are accounted for."

About 11:45 a.m., people had started reporting the incident on Facebook, as law enforcement went to the scene. At 12:24 p.m., reporters said at least 13 Lee County Sheriff's patrol cruisers were on the scene.

Yellow tape surrounds the Restaurant Depot in south Fort Myers as sheriff’s deputies respond to a situation inside on Thursday, March 16, 2023.
Yellow tape surrounds the Restaurant Depot in south Fort Myers as sheriff’s deputies respond to a situation inside on Thursday, March 16, 2023.

Restaurant Depot is a members-only chain selling wholesale food, beverages, equipment & supplies for restaurants and bars. The stand-alone square white and brick building along U.S. 41 has bright blue trim.

A man at the scene said he heard gunshots while shopping with a friend and they ran from the building.

ee County Sheriff’s deputies hold the tape so shoppers and employees can leave the perimeter around the Restaurant Depot in south Fort Myers on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Lee County Sheriff's Office confirms they are completing a homicide investigation in which one person is dead.
ee County Sheriff’s deputies hold the tape so shoppers and employees can leave the perimeter around the Restaurant Depot in south Fort Myers on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Lee County Sheriff's Office confirms they are completing a homicide investigation in which one person is dead.

An employee said as police arrived they told him to exit. Another employee said there are about 30 employees and there were about 50 people total in the store as it occurred.

One customer asked a deputy if they could return inside today and the deputy said they will be able to get back in.

The store is near a Metro Self Storage and across from a dental office.

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: Lee sheriff: Homicide at Fort Myers grocer an 'Isolated incident'