BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. — One person is dead and another is in police custody following a death in Bonita Springs on Wednesday.
Detectives have arrested Kenneth Balishin and charged him with second-degree murder.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office ruled the death a homicide. It happened around 9 a.m. Wednesday at Bonita Terra, a 55-and-over community near Terry Road and I-75.
Bonita Springs Fire and Rescue responded to a “stab, gunshot, penetrating trauma” call on Cedar Hill Court, which it received at 9:06 a.m. Bonita Terra residents reported seeing a medical helicopter land in the neighborhood shortly after.
“The helicopter was flying over and there were about 40 to 50 cops cars that just swarmed it,” resident Steve Mill said. “They had the coroner’s car and some other cars on the side. It was a shock for sure.”
The sheriff’s department has not yet released the incident report for the homicide.
FOX4 still is waiting on details on the victim, the suspect, and their relationship.
Residents of Bonita Terra, formerly known as Citrus Park, reacted with a mix of shock and confusion.
“The only thing I saw this morning were eight police cars, flashing lights, open speed, a fire truck and a first aid truck,” said Jim Novarro. “People who were nosy enough (went to) look at what was going on, but I have no idea what happened.”
When contacted by FOX4, the general manager of Bonita Terra said he couldn’t comment.
FOX4 will update this story when more information becomes available.
