FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — A year has passed since a person was fatally shot and several others wounded at a zombie-themed festival in Florida, and there still have been no arrests.
The News-Press of Fort Myers reported Saturday that Fort Myers detectives have interviewed hundreds of witnesses and examined hundreds of images and videos, and that the killing at last year’s Zombicon street festival remains unsolved. Crime Stoppers also received 150 tips.
The anniversary of the shootings is Monday. Police believe someone fired shots into the crowd in Fort Myers during the festival, which attracted as many as 20,000 people.
One of the victims, 20-year-old Expavious Tyrell Taylor, died at the scene. Five others were wounded.
“I will never get over it,” said Taylor’s grandmother, Estella Wilson.
In a video released by police after the shooting, hundreds of people in costume could be seen milling around, some having their photos taken with a person dressed in a large skull head and holding a scythe. Four loud pops are heard in the video, and then people start to run.
Four lawsuits have been filed against the festival’s promoter organizer and its security company, alleging they failed to keep patrons safe.
The lawsuits have been consolidated and are headed to an arbitration hearing next month.
Lawyers for the two businesses, Pushing Daizies and Southwest Florida Security, have denied responsibility in court documents.
Kyle Roberts, a Florida Gulf Coast University student, was shot through the right hand. Scot Goldberg, who is representing Roberts, of Port Charlotte, said he hopes to get the issue resolved during the November mediation.
He said Roberts has problems with his wrist and nerve tissue.
“He’s young and he’s recovered well,” Goldberg said.
Twenty-one-year-old Tyree Hunter, a student at the same university, was shot in the leg and said the injury and memories still bother him.
“You get a little anxiety being around a lot of crowds,” Hunter said.
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