Florida shooting: Two dead, up to 16 wounded, in teen nightclub attack

Two people have been killed and up to 16 more injured in a shooting at a nightclub in Fort Myers, Florida, police have said. 

Three people have been arrested in connection with the shooting. It is unclear who they were but local officers have said they are working to determine what the motivation was. 

The attack began at 00.30 local time (04.30 GMT) on Monday at the Club Blu nightclub on Evans Avenue, Fort Myers. The bar was hosting a teen-night and many youngsters are feared to be among those shot. Police said injuries "ranged from minor to life-threatening". A number had been taken to hospital and "several victims [were] suffering from gunshot wounds". 

Police said there was one other crime scene - a nearby house that was sprayed with bullets. One person was there suffered a minor injury. The area was "deemed safe" although roads in the vicinity were closed as the investigation continues.

One witness told local broadcaster WINK the scene at the club was like a "mad house".

The mother of one of the teens at the club said her child was "dodging bullets and running dropping between cars" to escape from the attack. Syreeta Gary told Fox News: "I just thank God that my daughter is OK because she could have been shot,"

She added: "It's ridiculous that these kids have to go through this, they can't enjoy themselves because you have other people there who have criminalistic minds - they just want to terrorise things. I'm just glad she's OK." 

The attack comes six weeks after another shooting in a nightclub in Orlando, where 49 people were killed.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more details are verified.

 

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