Suspect, police dog shot to death following armed robbery
A man fleeing an armed robbery on foot was shot to death Tuesday after he opened fire on a Fort Myers police officer and his K9 partner, fatally injuring the dog.
A second suspect, who fled from the McDonald’s restaurant at 2955 Colonial Blvd., was apprehended after he struck a second police dog with his getaway vehicle and then led pursuing officers into Lehigh Acres before crashing at Joel Boulevard and S.R. 80 where he was taken into custody.
Gilberto Amaya, 30, is charged with felony murder and robbery with a firearm.
Police have also arrested a restaurant employee for his alleged role in the robbery.
Leandro Fermin, 21, has been charged with felony murder, robbery with a firearm and conspiracy to commit a first degree felony.
Police have learned that Fermin, an employee of the McDonalds, assisted Amaya and the deceased suspect by leaving the back door of the restaurant unsecured. Amaya agreed to pay Fermin $300 for his involvement in the crime, officials said.
The suspect shot in the exchange of gunfiore with police has been identified as Kamyn Jodeci William Bright, 17.
The incident began at 10:33 p.m. after the Fort Myers Police Department responded to an armed robbery in progress at the McDonald’s. Responding officers saw two suspects inside the restaurant armed with handguns.
Both suspects fled, one taking off on foot, the other in a vehicle.
A FMPD officer and his K9 partner pursued one suspect on foot. The suspect began shooting at them, hitting K9 Partner Rosco. The officer continued to pursue the suspect on foot. Gunfire was exchanged and the suspect was shot and killed at 4415 Metro Parkway, officials said.
At the same time officers were pursuing the second suspect in his vehicle. The suspect hit K9 Partner Axe (pronounced ox) with his vehicle. The pursuit then took officers out to Lehigh Acres where the suspect lost control of his vehicle at a high rate of speed and crashed at Joel Boulevard and S.R. 80. This suspect, later identified as Amaya, was taken into custody without incident.
Rosco and Axe were transported to an emergency animal hospital. Rosco died on the way to the hospital. Axe is in stable condition and being monitored very closely as clinical signs may sometimes appear 24-48 hours post trauma, officials said.
Axe showed interest in food today and treatment will continue as well as observation for the next 24-48 hours. Axe is nine years old. Rosco was four.
The robbery is under investigation.
As standard procedure the two officers involved in the shooting will be placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation conducted by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the department’s Professional Standards Bureau, officials said.
Officials have not released the names of officers involved.
Source: Fort Myers Police Department