Post by Scumhunter on Aug 24, 2020 2:40:35 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com)
From azcentral.com: (October 2019):
A year after two men were killed in a spray of gunfire at Bell Tower Shops, the case remains active with no arrests and two lawsuits moving through the courts.
The shooting deaths of Kevin Robinson, 56, and Javarica Riggins, 22, came during a celebratory family dinner at the TGI Fridays in the south Fort Myers mall the evening of Oct. 9, 2018.
While the investigation hasn't produced arrests, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said that hasn't been for lack of trying.
"I regularly speak to the detectives involved," Marceno said. "They are following up on every lead and working as hard as possible to bring closure."
The sheriff said recent developments in other long-term murders such as the Estero double-murder gives him confidence the Bell Tower case can be cracked.
"Whether it's a very short or lengthy investigation," he said, "whether it's in or out of the county or out of the country, we will leave no stone unturned."
Any other details, the sheriff said, have to remain confidential because of the active status of the case.
After the family dinner at TGI Fridays — Robinson and Riggins were there to celebrate a relative's birthday — the men briefly stepped outside the restaurant and were immediately met with gunfire.
Both men died and two others were injured.
Family members were not available to comment for this story.
The lawsuits, filed against the shopping plaza and the restaurant, citing lack of security and safety remain winding their way through the courts and have been combined for discovery purposes.
"Each will likely have its separate trial," the family's attorney, Joe North, said.
Riggins left two young sons. The lawsuit on behalf of his estate was filed by the mother of one of his children, Brittany Williams. Together they have one son, Jayden. Riggin's other son, Jaysion, was also dependent on Riggins, according to the lawsuit.
Riggins was Phyllis Hayden's son. Hayden and the other victim, Robinson, were not legally married but had been a couple for a long time, North said. Robinson considered Riggins his stepson, he said.
The lawsuits, filed days after the shooting in Lee County Circuit Court, allege that the shootings were "reasonably foreseeable" because of violent criminal activity in the area over the last three years that property managers had failed to address.
Although witness accounts provided some information, those responsible remain at large.
At the time of the shooting, Marceno said the homicides were the result of a targeted shooting.
On the anniversary of the shooting Wednesday, Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers made a renewed push for tips that could lead to the arrest of the person or persons responsible.
Given the sizable number of people in the area at the time, Crime Stoppers hopes someone will come forward anonymously to help paint a clearer picture and track down one or more killers.
“That night was very hectic and people were understandably panicked about what had just happened. For that reason, some potential witnesses may have been hesitant to share what they saw or heard,” said Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers coordinator. “But here we are, one year later, and the family who lost two loved ones that night deserve to see justice served.
"Our community deserves to see justice served. And all it takes is for someone to have the bravery to come forward, completely anonymously, to share what they know.”
Anyone with information on the shootings at the Bell Tower Shops is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,000. Tips may also be made online at www.southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com or by submitting a tip on the P3Tips mobile app.
www.azcentral.com/story/news/crime/2019/10/09/bell-tower-shooting-deaths-case-still-has-no-arrests-made-year-later/3918090002/
Thoughts? The above article is from last October, however, as of this posting date (August 24th, 2020), Kevin and Javarcia's cases are sadly still listed as unsolved on Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers: southwestfloridacrimestoppers.com/sitemenu.aspx?P=unsolved&ID=104
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