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Sunday shooting in Lehigh probed

By Staff | Dec 25, 2008

Two people were injured in an accident early Sunday morning in Lehigh and two Lee County Sheriff's deputies were injured on their way to the shooting scene when their patrol car rolled over. The deputy tried to avoid a man in a wheelchair crossing the street. The shooting occurred some around 2 a.m. at 205 Ground Dove Circle.

Investigators said EMTs treated a 16-year-old, whose named was withheld by the Sheriff's Dept. Investigators said the victim had been shot in the upper body.

The teenaged victim was taken to the Trauma Center at Lee Memorial Hospital with what Sheriff's Spokesman Larry King said was non-life threatening

injuries. A second victim, 20-year-old Eliezer Alce had left the scene, but called for medical assistance and was also taken to the hospital for treatment

of a minor injury. Both victims are from Immokalee.

According to witnesses, the shooting occurred outside the home in the yard after an argument escalated to a physical confrontation. Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit are investigating the shooting incident. Two people were being detained Sunday morning for questioning.

Additionally, while responding to the shooting, one of the Sheriff’s Office patrol units was involved in a single vehicle crash. Preliminary information

is the driver of the patrol car, 33-year-old Deputy Susan Ferri, was forced to take evasive action to avoid striking a man in a wheel chair crossing Homestead Road, according to spokesman Sgt. Larry King. The car hit a pole causing the car to flip over injuring Ferri and her passenger, Field Training Officer, 31-year-old, Deputy Jamie Thorpe. The crash occurred near the intersection of Andros Street and Homestead Road, King said.

Ferri was airlifted to the Trauma Center at Lee Memorial Hospital, while Deputy Thorpe was taken by ambulance. According to reports, Ferri was in surgery Sunday morning. Neither injury was considered life threatening however, according to King. The Florida Highway Patrol investigated the crash.

If anyone knows the identity of the person or persons responsible for the shooting, they were being asked Sunday to call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at 477-1000 or, to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward up to $1,000, by calling

Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).