- The Washington Times - Monday, July 25, 2016

Florida Gov. Rick Scott fended off potential calls for gun control Monday in the wake of a shooting at a Fort Myers nightclub that killed two teenage boys and injured 20 others.

“I support the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment has never shot anybody. Evil does this,” Mr. Scott, a Republican, said at a news conference on the shooting.

Gunfire broke out in the parking lot of a nightclub hosting a swimsuit-themed party for teens about 12:30 a.m. Monday. Happening a little over a month after a terrorist killed 49 people in mass shooting inside an Orlando nightclub, Fort Myers officials were quick to rule out terrorism as a motive in Monday’s shooting. However, officials have not disclosed any potential motive behind the violence.

Fort Myers Police Chief Dennis Eads said investigators have three “persons of interest” in custody and that officials are still looking for others.

Two teens were killed after gunfire erupted in the parking lot of Club Blu as parents were arriving to pick up their children from the party. They were identified by police as 18-year-old Stef’an Strawder and 14-year-old Sean Archilles.

Mr. Scott urged community members to work together and to be aware of their surroundings to prevent any violence.

“We have to all work together,” he said. If you see something, you’ve got to say something. You need to be very supportive of your law enforcement. You need to be appreciative that law enforcement is willing to show up.”

• Andrea Noble can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.

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