UPDATE: Friday, June 28, 3:30p
As of Friday afternoon, there were no significant updates in this case. Lee County Deputies told FOX 4 they continue to follow leads but are not ready to identify the victim at this time. They said they intended to reach out if they needed the public's help as their investigation progressed.
UPDATE: Thursday, June 27 7:00P
Just before 6 o'clock Thursday night, deputies wrapped up their work at the scene of a deadly shooting that forced the evacuation of Three Oaks Park, between San Carlos Park and I-75.
No further updates were anticipated Thursday night, and at last word deputies were still actively working to identify the shooter and the male victim.
They did say the victim was shot several times in a car near the park before taking off and crashing, but they called the shooting a "isolated incident."
FOX 4's Community Correspondents work in the same community each day, and that unique commitment meant FOX 4's Mahmoud Bennett was the first reporter on the scene, so he saw, firsthand, investigators swept the scene near the victim's car, which ended up in the center median on Three Oaks Parkway.
WATCH as Mahmoud Bennett talks about what he saw at the shooting scene on FOX 4 News at 6:00.
Bennett also saw approximately ten people were gathered in the median, surrounded by officers, while nearby residents were urged to remain in their homes.
Witnesses at the scene reported hearing gunshots. Debbie Ahladis said she was walking her dog with friends when the incident occurred.
"I was just walking my dog like I do every day – we've been coming here for many years," Ahladis said. "A police officer came up to me and said I needed to move immediately."
Ahladis and her friends then witnessed deputies swarming the park with a K-9 unit.
"More police officers arrived, and they directed us to stand in the middle of the median," she said.
A short distance away on I-75, FOX 4 and drivers both briefly saw deputies with guns drawn during the morning rush along the interstate.
UPDATE: THURSDAY, JUNE 27 11:09am
During a press conference on Thursday, Sheriff Carmine Marceno announced that the scene in Three Oaks is a homicide investigation and the search for the suspect is underway.
The sheriff says a man was found inside of a car with multiple gunshot wounds.
According to Marceno's update, deputies rendered first aid to the victim.
The person was pronounced dead at the scene.
The scene is considered isolated, and the identity of the suspect is unknown.
If you have any information that can aid in this investigation, you're asked to contact Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.
WATCH THE LEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S UPDATE THURSDAY MORNING.
UPDATE: June 27 10:13 AM
The Lee County Sheriff's Office says Three Oaks Parkway is closed between Winged Foot Dr and San Carlos Blvd.
Deputies still have parts of the area around Three Oaks Parkway shut down.
Deputies have a drone looking over the area.
This is the area deputies are searching.
UPDATE: June 27 9:49 AM
The Lee County Sheriff's Office says they will provide an update regarding this scene at 11:30a.
‼️ACTIVE SCENE‼️Sheriff Carmine Marceno will address the media around 11:30 this morning reference an active scene near Three Oaks Park. Media staging is at 18200 block of Three Oaks Pkwy. pic.twitter.com/dnd7duN2AG
— Carmine Marceno - Florida’s Law and Order Sheriff (@SheriffLeeFL) June 27, 2024
FOX 4 is working to learn more about an active scene on I-75 South near Alico Road.
Take a look at this video of Lee County Deputies on the side of the interstate with their guns drawn.
At this early point in the response, the Lee County Sheriff's Office tells us it's working to gather information.
Witnesses tell Fox 4's Mahmoud Bennett that people heard gunshots. They told him Three Oaks Park was evacuated to a spot in the median of Three Oaks Parkway.
The Florida Highway Patrol is also on scene.
This is a breaking news situation. We will update this story as soon as we have more information.
