Posted on Oct 18, 2015
1 dead, 5 hurt in shooting at Florida 'ZombiCon.' Do you think tighter security will be the future for events such as these?
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I love attending events such as these, however, because of the many "weapon like props" for the many costumed themes associated with these events, do you think that tighter security screens and/or "Gun Free Zones" should be enforced as part of security for events like "ZombiCon" or the more famous "ComiCon"? Do you think more security measures should have been in place, and may have prevented this from happening? What are your thoughts?
"One person died and four others were hurt after shooting broke out at a zombie-themed event in Florida Saturday, authorities said.
The shooting happened at about 11:44 p.m. in downtown Fort Myers at a "ZombiCon" event, Fort Myers police said.
"I heard four gunshots and saw the crowd 10 feet in front of me part, and everyone turn and start running," Desere Lee, a student at Florida Gulf State University who was at the event, told NBC News.
Five people in all were shot, and a male died at the scene, police said. The dead man was identified as Expavious Tyrell Taylor, according to a statement by Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson.
"We pray for all involved in this senseless act of violence," the statement said. "With the aid of alert citizens and cameras we remain confident in capturing and bringing to justice, those who have attacked our citizens."
Four of the surviving victims were brought to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and another person who was hurt refused medical attention at the scene, authorities said.
A suspect is still at large, according to police.
The organizers of the event, billed as "the largest gathering of zombies and those who love them in the state of Florida" said they were "deeply saddened" by the violence. The annual festival had been expected to draw more than 20,000 fans in costume.
ZombiCon is a charity event where participants dress up as zombies. It wasn't clear if the shooting involved participants of the event, but organizers said it occurred "within the footprint" of ZombiCon.
"We take the safety of our patrons very seriously and take precautions in hiring security and police officers for our annual event," the organizers, Pushing DaiZies, Inc., said in a statement posted to Facebook. "Our prayers go out to the family members and individuals involved in the incident."
ZombiCon has been a popular event for nearly a decade, but some local residents and business owners have not welcomed the crowd of costumed revelers in the street dressed as limping, bloated, degrading corpses.
One restaurant posted signs warning visitors that ZombiCon participants were not welcome.
"Quarantined. No Zombies allowed," the signs read.
Several members from a religious group also picketed the event this weekend."
"One person died and four others were hurt after shooting broke out at a zombie-themed event in Florida Saturday, authorities said.
The shooting happened at about 11:44 p.m. in downtown Fort Myers at a "ZombiCon" event, Fort Myers police said.
"I heard four gunshots and saw the crowd 10 feet in front of me part, and everyone turn and start running," Desere Lee, a student at Florida Gulf State University who was at the event, told NBC News.
Five people in all were shot, and a male died at the scene, police said. The dead man was identified as Expavious Tyrell Taylor, according to a statement by Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson.
"We pray for all involved in this senseless act of violence," the statement said. "With the aid of alert citizens and cameras we remain confident in capturing and bringing to justice, those who have attacked our citizens."
Four of the surviving victims were brought to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries and another person who was hurt refused medical attention at the scene, authorities said.
A suspect is still at large, according to police.
The organizers of the event, billed as "the largest gathering of zombies and those who love them in the state of Florida" said they were "deeply saddened" by the violence. The annual festival had been expected to draw more than 20,000 fans in costume.
ZombiCon is a charity event where participants dress up as zombies. It wasn't clear if the shooting involved participants of the event, but organizers said it occurred "within the footprint" of ZombiCon.
"We take the safety of our patrons very seriously and take precautions in hiring security and police officers for our annual event," the organizers, Pushing DaiZies, Inc., said in a statement posted to Facebook. "Our prayers go out to the family members and individuals involved in the incident."
ZombiCon has been a popular event for nearly a decade, but some local residents and business owners have not welcomed the crowd of costumed revelers in the street dressed as limping, bloated, degrading corpses.
One restaurant posted signs warning visitors that ZombiCon participants were not welcome.
"Quarantined. No Zombies allowed," the signs read.
Several members from a religious group also picketed the event this weekend."
Posted in these groups: 
Gun ControlFt. Myers/Cape Coral
Gun ControlFt. Myers/Cape Coral
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
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That is very sad MSgt Curtis Ellis. With a name like ZombiCon it is tragically ironic that shooting would occur there. Prayers for those wounded. It is very hard to predict if more security measures should have been in place, and may have prevented something like this from happening.
Prudent security is always a reasonable approach.
Prudent security is always a reasonable approach.
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I may tick some folks off with this comment, but I am starting to think events like this one are indicative of the sort of mental/moral breakdown that's causing a lot of the violence we're hearing about. I'm not that "old", but when I was a kid, the monsters were the bad-guys...Now, vampires, zombies, other "evil" forces are the "heroes". It's like our society wants to be "above" the established social order...like we're obsessed with "counter-culture".
I participate in historical re-enacting: It's amazing to me that people who enjoy portraying characters from the Middle Ages and Victorian period have no connection with the rigid social/moral systems that governed those times.
It's as if nothing is sacred, the more "gory" the better...Part of me thinks this is because we've become so isolated and protected (translation-spoiled), that people are trying to create scenarios to fit the sensationalized grittiness of popular fiction.
I participate in historical re-enacting: It's amazing to me that people who enjoy portraying characters from the Middle Ages and Victorian period have no connection with the rigid social/moral systems that governed those times.
It's as if nothing is sacred, the more "gory" the better...Part of me thinks this is because we've become so isolated and protected (translation-spoiled), that people are trying to create scenarios to fit the sensationalized grittiness of popular fiction.
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MSgt Curtis Ellis
LCDR (Join to see) No disrespect, Sir, and I understand what you are saying, but it sounds to me like you justified the act for and declared open season on Halloween...
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LCDR (Join to see)
None taken-I get pretty involved in the holiday myself; though I think we've come a long way from what I remember as a kid. I'm probably just an old grump...but when I look at the ways in which Halloween has changed, I'm a little put-off by the focus on very dark psychological themes. I like a good ghost story as much as the next guy...but some of what I see very young people showing interest in surprised and concerns me.
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MSgt Curtis Ellis
LCDR (Join to see) - Understood, and thanks for the POV. To a degree, I totally agree with you.
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