Man arrested for shooting toward a crowd; bystander shoots back

A man was arrested after being accused of shooting toward a crowd before a bystander returned fire.

The Fort Myers PD ShotSpotter detected multiple shots fired Thursday afternoon around 4:20 p.m. in the area of Henderson Avenue and Thomas Street near an abandoned building.

When police arrived, they arrested David Williams, 50, after a struggle and holding him at Taser-point.

Witnesses say Williams had “an object” in his jacket pocket that he began banging on a bench – which turned out to be a gun. They say he did it multiple times before pulling it out and firing toward a crowd of people.

One of the men in the crowd pulled out his own gun and returned fire in the direction of Williams.

The report states Williams then threw his gun in a parking lot.

Nobody was hit by gunfire, and no injuries were reported.

Williams faces charges for firing a weapon in public; aggravated assault with a deadly weapon – without intent to kill, possession of a firearm by a felon, and resisting arrest.

Williams remains in jail on $23,000 bond.