The marketing company Pushing Daizies has announced that the Zombicon festival will not be held in 2016. The event was marred by a shooting on October 17, 2015 that killed Tyrell Taylor, 20, and injured several others.
Pushing Daizies had considered staging the zombie-themed festival in Cape Coral after the City of Fort Myers told them that Zombicon wouldn't be happening there in 2016. But Cape city council said no.
"It's hard to organize 30,000 people," said Savannah Leslie, who works at the tattoo parlor Needful Things, Inc. in downtown Fort Myers. "But you've got to find a better way to do it,. or you're going to end up with people getting shot."
Pushing Daizies did not respond to requests for comment. Instead, the firm is promoting an art showing called "A Decade of Dark" at the Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers, according the art center's Web site.
Stevie Tyler, a barber at Dapper Cuts in downtown Fort Myers, hopes Zombicon makes a comeback in the future.
"I absolutely hope event coordinators can work something out and make it a safe environment for everybody," Tyler said.
While Fort Myers police have received hundreds of tips in the shooting death of Tyrell Taylor, none have led to an arrest. A reward of up to $36,000 could go to the person who provides that tip.
