UPDATE (11 PM): Detectives have made an arrest in the homicide investigation that happened on South Tamiami Trail in Fort Myers.
20-year-old Abraham Isaac Rivera was charged with Second Degree Murder and booked into the Lee County Jail Monday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Lee County deputies are searching for the person responsible for killing a father-to-be in Fort Myers.
The incident happened early Sunday morning. Twenty-two-year-old Eddie Powell was found dead at the Island Park shopping plaza off South Tamiami trail. Kayla Stone, Powell's girlfriend, received the horrifying call around 3 a.m. "I Got to the hospital and all of his family was there. Everyone was crying and I asked, 'is he okay'," she said. "They said that they didn't know."
Later, family was told Powell did not make it. People who work in the plaza told Fox 4 they were surprised that this would happen in the quiet area. "Very quiet, if there's anything going on, it's laughter from next door, you know people having a good time," said Kim, who works at a dry cleaners in the plaza.
Powell, also called Chico by loved ones, and Stone were expecting their first child together in three weeks. She told Fox 4 she feels lost without him, and wishes the violence would stop. "I think it's going to take the community and everyone around to be able to stop the violence. I feel like people are killing others for no reason," said Stone.
Powell is described as loving person who always made people laugh. Stone said he loved to coach football. "That's really what Chico wanted," said Stone. "He wanted to teach people how to play football. He loved little kids and loved to teach them about football."
Several workers in the plaza told Fox 4 that the Oasis Hookah Lounge was the only place open at the time of the shooting. It is unclear if Powell had visited the lounge that night.
Anyone with information should call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at (239) 477-1000. Or, to remain anonymous and be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1000, call Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS. Tips may also be made online at www.swflcrimestoppers.org or by texting a tip to CRIMES(274637) keyword: REWARD
