Story Created:
Jul 18, 2008 at 1:38 AM EST
Story Updated:
Jul 18, 2008 at 5:36 PM EST
FORT MYERS, Fla. - A Fort Myers Police Officer is dead after being shot while trying to break up a fight outside a club in the city's River District.
It happened just after 2:00 Friday morning outside of Club Envie. A police spokeswoman says the officer was trying to break up a fight when a man pulled out a gun and opened fire.
Other officers in the area shot the suspect. Both the officer and the suspect were pronounced dead on the scene.
Neither person has been identified. Fort Myers Police say the officer was in his first year with the department, was about 30 years old and was married with three children.
This is the fifth time a Fort Myers Police Officer has been killed in the line of duty and first since 2003. The only other time an officer was killed by gunfire was back in 1930.
The following roads have been closed as part of the investigation:
-- Broadway & Second
-- Second & Hendry
-- Main & Hendry
-- Main & Broadway
The roads are expected to remain closed for most of the day. Police are asking people to avoid the area if possible.
Fort Myers Police Department Fallen Officer Memorial
You can click on this link to donate money to build a fallen officer memorial for the Fort Myers Police Department.
UPDATE:
CLICK HERE TO READ THE UPDATE
Saturday, Jul 26 at 12:40 AM R. Harrison wrote ...
. . . your journey is just beginning. if you need anything please contact me at HSCO, my father was Sgt. Ron Harrison eow 8.15.07. I will be in touch, may God bless you and your family. R. Harrison
Saturday, Jul 26 at 12:37 AM R. Harrison wrote ...
Widman Family, I hope this note finds you well. And I say those words filled with love. My father died in the line of duty much in the manner that Officer Widman was taken. Becareful reading these blogs, they can help and they can hurt. I plan to send my info to FMPD so if you need someone to talk I would be honored to be that ear. If you wish to contact me first, HILLSBOROUGH Sherrif Office has my info. I am coming up on my one year 8/15, and I hate to say it but your journey . . .
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 4:16 PM Maggie wrote ...
My heart is heavy for all that his wife, children and family are going through, and how this will change their lives forever. God Bless them, and guide them through each new day. My kid sister and my nephew are both in law enforcement, and I couldn't be prouder of them, and yes I worry what each new day could bring them. I've got a special place in my heart for this fallen officer and his family, he was doing his job, 'serving and protecting' and very sadly, he paid the ultimate price.
Monday, Jul 21 at 8:30 AM CSK wrote ...
I cannot believe the support I am reading for "Abel". He pulled a gun and shot an officer in the face. Someone wrote that he looked past Abel's faults and considered him a friend. I seriously question your own morals and values. Abel had a a very serious record of crime. He should not have been carrying a weapon. His own actions created the situation. You so called "victims" of the police need to take responsibility for your own actions and quit blaming every one else.
Sunday, Jul 20 at 10:22 PM Denise wrote ...
my thoughts and prayers are with the wife and children. May God keep the family under his wings. God keep ft.myers,cape coral and all police officers safe and protect them
Saturday, Jul 19 at 10:42 AM Bob wrote ...
I do not know this this officer, but I Cry for his and his wife. May GOD blesse his and the officers of the FMPD. May god bless all the police officer of SWF.FMPD,LCSO,CCPD,FHP,FWC, and SANIBEL. God be with you all.
Friday, Jul 18 at 7:34 PM Crying wrote ...
God Bless Andy. God Bless his family and friends. God Bless all our law enforcement.
Friday, Jul 18 at 1:29 PM Alan wrote ...
I hope and pray that his family can feel and be embraced by all the heart felt emotions of the citizens that grieve with them and for them at this darkest hour. May God show his love unto you and hold you tight. I salute this fallen officer.
Friday, Jul 18 at 12:29 PM Sherry wrote ...
My heart is breaking for the family and friends of this fallen officer. These are the times that we just have to trust God and give it all to him. He is in control and will take care of all things. I pray each day for the law enforcement officers in Cape Coral and Ft. Myers. Each time I see one of them I say a prayer for their safety. My son is a police detective in another state. It is a hard job with not the best compensation monetarly- we all need to do whatever we can to support them.
Friday, Jul 18 at 11:40 AM CNL wrote ...
How Tragic...a life ended for no reason! Just trying to do his job! My heart goes out to his widow and 3 children that will now have to grow up without their father because of someone else's split second of stupidity....What a shame!
Friday, Jul 18 at 11:40 AM Grieving the loss wrote ...
God Bless the wife that will raise the children without their father. God Bless the Family that will support her and help her stay strong.
Friday, Jul 18 at 11:38 AM Jackie wrote ...
My hart is heavey and crying for you and your family in this great loss. Your faith in God will see you through this midnight hour in your life.
Friday, Jul 18 at 11:31 AM Linda wrote ...
My prayers are with the family of this officer and his family and co-workers. We lost our son-in-law in Texas on Christmas Eve 2000. He was shot and killed by the Texas Seven ( escaped prisoners) Our daughters and our lives have never been the same. My heart breaks for his family. Our son is also an officer in Gainesville.
Friday, Jul 18 at 11:22 AM Chloe wrote ...
our prayers will go out to you and your family. God is now with him. were so sorry to hear this today. allways know he is loved from his familys and others knowing things were safe when he was on the roads trying to make it safe for us. we will miss him and know we will see him again and allways know he his watching over his wife and his kids. we will miss you and youll be in our hearts and sole.
Friday, Jul 18 at 11:18 AM Anthony wrote ...
My Prayers go out to the fallen Officer's family and the FT. Myers Police Dept.
Friday, Jul 18 at 11:17 AM Joe wrote ...
What a tragedy and such a loss. A fine young man shot to death trying to do his job. My thoughts and prayers go to his young widow and 3 small children who have lost their father. Hopefully we will respect our officers in uniform and thank them for putting their lives in danger every time they are on duty. My sympathy to his parents as well. As a father of a 32 year old son I cannot imagine the pain this senseless crime has inflicted.
Friday, Jul 18 at 11:16 AM Vickie wrote ...
My Prayers Are with with the officer and his family. Also with all the other officers.May God Watch over all. GOD BLESS!
Friday, Jul 18 at 11:09 AM LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY wrote ...
OUR PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY AND WHOLE ENTIRE FT MYERS POLICE DEPARTMENT WE ALL HAVE SUFFERED A GREAT LOSS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Friday, Jul 18 at 10:48 AM Tammy wrote ...
This is so tragic. Everyone in the community is broken up over this. My heart goes out to the officer's wife and children. They have a long road of healing ahead of them and they need our prayers!
Friday, Jul 18 at 10:34 AM Rick in Arcadia wrote ...
My condolences to the officers family and friends.May Gods love embrace them and help to quell their grief.
Friday, Jul 18 at 10:28 AM Victor wrote ...
My thoughts and prayers to the Officer's family and colleages. It's sad to see things like this happening, especially here in our own backyard. The officer's duty was to protect us, not to die in cold blood.
Friday, Jul 18 at 10:12 AM Jill wrote ...
My heart is broken for this officer's family and for all of the families of the FMPD. My brother is a law enforcement officer as well as many close friends (this really hits home). I pray for God's grace to touch our hearts and work through all of us to show this family and the family of all law enforcement officers that we appreciate their willingness to possibly pay the ultimate sacrifice every time they put on their badge for our safety. Thank You and God Bless You All!
Friday, Jul 18 at 10:01 AM mozzy wrote ...
there is not much difference from being a cop in this country or being in Iraq.
Friday, Jul 18 at 9:20 AM Jo wrote ...
I am so sorry for the police officer's family and his co-workers. What a tragedy! As a wife & mother I can only imagine the devastation of receiving that kind of news. Even though we all know that "this is a risk that is taken everyday" it still manages to hit deep and hard everytime it does occur. To all involved know that you are in our thoughts & prayers at this time.
Friday, Jul 18 at 8:27 AM Noah wrote ...
Ive known the family of the officer 20 plus years. They are family. Im not sure if I should give the name of the officer so I wont. He has a beautiful wife and three beautiful children all under three years old. When I say beautiful i mean inside and out. The entire family is exactly that, beautiful. Me heart is braking for them.
Friday, Jul 18 at 8:21 AM Don wrote ...
God Bless him, his family, the FMPD, and the whole law enforcement community of swf.
Friday, Jul 18 at 8:13 AM c wrote ...
Now is not the appropriate time to get up on a soapbox and preach about gun control. Condolences and prayers to the family.
Friday, Jul 18 at 8:02 AM Gerry wrote ...
My thoughts and prayers go the family and the agency,
Friday, Jul 18 at 8:01 AM Sunflower wrote ...
It's a very sad that another police officer is killed.And it's going to very hard for his children's not having there father.And for his wife it sad that there are people out there that kills other people.And my thoughts are with the police officer family.I hope that they will be able to go on even thur right now it will be very hard for them.It seems there is always bad,bad things on the news not too much good things.We live in a crazy world.
Friday, Jul 18 at 7:53 AM Father of a policeman wrote ...
What is left to be said. Policman have a dutiful and very dangerous job. To all policeman, please be careful.
Friday, Jul 18 at 7:25 AM LCSO Wife wrote ...
I do not yet know the name of this officer, but his death hits very close to home.My prayers are with his wife and children and my heart breaks for them.I hope they are able to make it through this tragedy and evenetually rebuild their lives that were shattered. God Bless... And RIP officer...
Friday, Jul 18 at 6:06 AM RICK FROM NAPLES wrote ...
I PRAY FOR THE FALLEN OFFICERS FAMILY,MY PRAYERS ARE WITH THEM AS WELL.AS THIS STOY UNFOLDS WE WILL PROBABLY END UP FINDING OUT THIS PERSON HAS A HISTORY OF MENTAL ISSUES.AND THE OUTCRY TO TAKE ALL GUNS AWAY FROM PEOPLE WILL START IMMEDIATELY,TYPICAL COMMENTS AFTER SUCH A HORRIBLE EVENT. HOWEVER IF THE GUNS ARE TAKEN AWAY PEOPLE LIKE THIS WACK JOB WILL STILL HAVE HIS BUT NOT THE LAW ABIDING PUBLIC. GOD BLESS THE OFFICER AND FAMILY.
Friday, Jul 18 at 5:20 AM Mojo wrote ...
It's good that the suspect is dead for pulling a gun on an officer. It's very bad that a police officer has to die because of scum like this.
Friday, Jul 18 at 5:07 AM Dalenen wrote ...
From Ohio, today they are burying an officer killed in the line of duty last Sunday morning. He pulled over the accused on a routine traffic stop in Twinsburg Ohio a suburb of Cleveland and Akron. Now this bad news!!!!! Oh my god. Being a police officer in this country is becoming more and more dangerous all the time. Growing up we were always told to obey the police officers instructions. Please have respect for them.
Friday, Jul 18 at 3:57 AM Tony wrote ...
It's very sad to hear that an Officer was killed in the line of duty but it's very satisfying to know that the scumbag that pulled the trigger will no longer be causing problems. My prayers go out to the fallen Officer's family.
Friday, Jul 18 at 3:40 AM Dias wrote ...
Our prayers goes to the Officer and his family.
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