NAPLES, FL - September 22, 2020 - According to an online news report posted on naplesnews.com, Lee County Sheriff's deputies engaged in a shootout with two home invasion suspects. According to Detective Ryan Mackinnon, with the Lee County Sherrif's Office, two suspects fleeing San Carlos Park after a home invasion fired at pursuing law enforcement officers, nearly killing at least one officer. Detective Ryan Mackinnon claims that one bullet came within inches of one officer's head.
The shootout incident occurred on a Tuesday night near Alico Road and Interstate 75. According to the news report, the two suspects, a 17-year-old male and a 22-year-old male bolted from an unsuccessful home invasion in San Carlos Park in South Naples, Florida. As the suspect's attempted to flee responding law enforcement, the two exchanged shots with Sherriff's deputies as the law enforcement officers attempted to capture the two suspects. Fortunately, no civilians or Lee County Sheriff's Office deputies were harmed in the violent encounter, according to the Sheriff's office statements.
The two suspects were transported to the hospital for medical treatment, and then the two were booked into the county jail. The Sherriff's office did not discuss the specifics of the severity of the injuries to the suspects during the alleged encounter with the law enforcement officers.
The two suspects appeared before the Lee County Circuit Court on Thursday. One of the suspects was in a wheelchair and made his court appearance before a Lee County Circuit Court judge from jail via a video call. The suspect remains in jail. The defendant's attorney stated that his client's booking record did not name his client as the driver or that his client fired a gun. A Lee County detective present at the hearing stated that the defendant admitted to him that he drove the fleeing van and that the other suspect said not to stop for the Sherriff's deputies. The defendant was charged with resisting arrest, three counts of attempted murder of an officer, and fleeing law enforcement. The Lee County Circuit Court judge set the defendant's bond at $365,000. Also, if the defendant posts bond, he would be required to wear a GPS monitor, and he would need to turn in all of his weapons and firearms. His next hearing is set for October 19, 2020.
The other suspect, the 17-year-old boy, has been charged with three counts of attempted murder of an officer. He was released from custody and was placed into the custody of his guardian on Wednesday. The 17-year-old appeared in juvenile court. The suspect was also ordered to be held at a juvenile detention for 21 days. The defendant is to appear before the court on Friday.
The charges involving the alleged home invasion are still pending, according to Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno.
According to the arrest report, which has not been made public yet, one of the suspects shot at the Sherriff's deputies, and neither of the suspects was hit by return fire by Sheriff's deputies. One of the suspects did not surrender to Sherriff's deputies. However, according to the available arrest report, an LCSO K-9 unit discovered the suspect hiding in the woods close to the interstate. The suspect repeatedly struck the head of the K-9 in an effort to evade arrest.