Mariner HS students mourn death of 17-year-old killed in Fort Myers shooting

Reporter: Corey Lazar
Published: Updated:
Irving Edwards, 17

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The student body at Mariner High School in Cape Coral is mourning after a 17-year-old student was killed in an apartment off State Road 82 and I-75 Wednesday.

Jhshod D. Thornton, 20, is facing manslaughter charges in the death of 17-year-old Irving Edwards after, according to sources, an AK47 went off, sending at least one bullet into Edwards chest in an apartment at Lexington Palms at the Forum.

Authorities initially detained four people for questioning in connection to the shooting. Jonas Jackson, 18, was later arrested on suspicion of tampering with evidence, police said.

No further information is immediately available.

Students were sharing tweets that suggest Thornton obtained an assault rifle days before the shooting.

A group of Mariner High students also gathered for a demonstration for their friend Thursday.

The high school community is reeling after the loss of Edwards, who is remembered for being on the Mariner High homecoming court.

His closest friends posted photos with captions that spoke to the bonds they shared.

Other comments on social media depict Edwards as a kid who wanted to stay away from violence. Students are planning special tributes to Edwards for the remainder of the school year, which ends June 10.

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