Cape Coral police identify man in officer-involved shooting as Christopher Lefande

Writer: Melissa Montoya
Published: Updated:
Christopher J. Lefande (CREDIT: Lee County Sheriff’s Office)

Cape Coral police have identified the man killed during a police encounter on Thursday.

Christopher J. Lefande, 49, was spotted with a gun outside his home Thursday night, according to the Cape Coral Police Department.

Cape Coral police were called to the home in the 2600 block of NW 9th Street in Cape Coral for a disturbance when they found Lefande.

“They encountered a man. They saw a gun on the man. They took cover,” said Cape Coral interim police Chief Anthony Sizemore. “The gentleman then confronted our officers and our officers shot and subsequently killed the suspect.”

Lefande has a long arrest history that includes domestic battery, assault and gun charges, records show.

Duff Mishka lives near the home but didn’t hear the gunfire.

“We looked out the front window and I said, ‘gosh, you got to see this, there’s just police everywhere,'” Mishka said.

Mishka saw the yellow tape and a gurney.

WINK News Safety and Security Specialist Rich Kolko said in a situation like this an officer’s first goal is to de-escalate the situation.

Officers will try to open communication with the person while also being aware of who is in the neighborhood and if they are in immediate danger.

“At the end of the day when it comes down to it, police are going to have to make a decision to use deadly force and in this case, they had to make that choice,” Kolko said. 

Two officers involved in the shooting were not hurt. Both have been placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol while the Cape Coral Police Department and the State Attorney’s Office investigates.

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