CAPE CORAL, FL - July 2, 2020 - According to an online news report published on the new website fox4now.com, a violent drive-by shooting occurring last Wednesday night continues to grow the list of violent crimes the city of Cape Coral has lately endured. The drive-by shooting occurred at the Hurricane Grill & Wings located off of SW Pine Island Road in Cape Coral, Florida. The shooting took place at approximately 10 p.m. The restaurant's owner stated that he had never experienced a violent crime such as this one, and the restaurant is a family restaurant.
Cape Coral law enforcement officials stated that a suspect drove past the Hurricane Grill & Wings restaurant and fired 4 to 5 shots at the restaurant's building. One customer, who was sitting outside, was hit by a bullet. The owner stated that there were no previous arguments or fights inside or outside the restaurant suggesting this was a random act of violence. Luckily, the customer who was shot suffered a non-life-threatening injury as the bullet grazed the man's leg. The restaurant owner concluded by stating that he hopes law enforcement will find the suspect and make an arrest in the shooting.
The drive-by shooting at Hurricane Grill & Wings follows a series of additional violent crimes that have occurred in Cape Coral, Florida, so far in July. A few days before, a mother attacked and stabbed several times in her home and in front of her children. A prior incident includes a woman who was arrested for the stabbing and killing her mother.
Cape Coral citizens are asking, "What does this mean for our neighborhood?" and "Are we seeing a trend in more violent crimes?"
Cape Coral leaders are claiming that the increase in violent crimes recently does not mean this a trend of criminal activity. Cape Coral Police Department's Master Sgt. Patrick O'Grady stated that the recent violent crimes were acts of domestic violence and not a trend in random violent crimes. The rates of violent crime in Cape Coral, Florida, has not increased. However, the rate of domestic violence crimes has increased, and there have been about 100 more domestic violence arrests made as compared to last year.
Retired Cape Coral Police Chief and private investigator Walter Zalisko stated that he believes the COVID-19 crisis might be the cause of the violent crime uptick. He believes that people are coping with the issue of having to stay home and with their partners. Eventually, there will be an argument, and a fight could ensue and get out of hand. He added that the number of violent crimes in Cape Coral, Florida, has dropped in Cape Coral the year before. He also stated that Cape Coral's population has grown to over 200,000 people and a city of that size should expect to see some sort of criminal activity.