Return to Zombicon? Fort Myers residents ponder the idea

The return of Zombicon has crossed the minds of some Fort Myers residents after the alleged shooter was arrested Monday.

Scott Kleveno vividly recalled the night of the shooting on Oct. 17, 2015 on First Street that killed one person and injured five others.

After the shooting, Kleveno turned in surveillance video from the downtown diner where he worked to the Fort Myers Police Department in an attempt to catch the suspect.

“I was able to see everyone running down towards the courthouse area … I noticed across the street someone running in black and we thought that was possibly the shooter,” Kleveno said.

Kleveno believes the arrest is not enough to bring the event back to Fort Myers.

“There was a lot of stuff that fell through the cracks,” Kleveno said. “People shouldn’t be all 20,000 people all in makeup. You can’t see who they are, fake guns running around, you could see the same thing happening all again.”

Kiarra Rensel, who has been to Zombicon in the past, wants to see its return.

“Have more security and I think it should be fine,” Kirra Rensel said. “Make sure all the guns they bring in are fake.”

Since the shooting, the City of Fort Myers installed surveillance cameras to help track down criminals.

Jose Raul Bonilla, 23, of Immokalee, was arrested Monday and faces charges of second-degree murder, five counts of aggravated battery and destroying or tampering with evidence.

“I’m so glad they got them, and I wouldn’t mind the event coming back as well,” Kirra’s mother, Tammy Rensel said. “I would still be worried if she went, but I don’t see why not because it was a great event for many years.”

At this time, Zombicon organizers won’t say if they plan to bring the event back.