Hundreds Of Tips Pour In After ZombiCon Shooting
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FORT MYERS (CBSMiami) – Police in Fort Myers received more than 500 tips about the shooting that killed a South Florida athlete at ZombiCon over the weekend.
They are closely examining surveillance video that shows thousands of people, some of them in costume carrying fake weapons, making the investigating that much more difficult.
ZombieCon was supposed to be a fun weekend event in downtown Fort Myers until shortly before midnight. A crowd of about 20,000 people ran for cover after the shots were fired. Five people were shot, one of them, 20-year old Tyrell Taylor was killed.
Taylor, who grew up in Clewiston, played football at ASA College in North Miami Beach, which just started a football program this year.
"Tyrell was a great person. Well-liked and respected amongst our staff and our team," said ASA Football Coach Ernest Jones.
Police in Fort Myers are closely looking at all the surveillance footage they've received including a scene that appears to show a man dressed in black holding what appears to be a weapon. Police warn many people at Zombiecon were in costume, some with fake blood and fake weapons.
Taylor celebrated his birthday just two weeks ago. Now his family in Clewiston is mourning his loss.
"Everybody's devastated by this. Nobody was expecting that phone call, that message on Facebook. That text message. Anything. I would have never expected I would get a call saying my brother's just been killed. I wouldn't," said Tyrell Taylor's Sister Amanda Andrews.
Taylor was an offensive lineman for the college. His teammates say number 68 was a tough competitor who liked to smile and lead teammates in prayer.
"I shed a couple of tears holding it together but we are going on in memory of him," teammate Elrado Telfer.
The ASA football team and coaches considered canceling their next game this coming weekend but they decided to go ahead and play, dedicating the game to their teammate Tyrell Taylor.
ASA college has also started a GoFundMe page to help Taylor's family. Click here to contribute.
Anyone with information in the case is asked to call the Fort Myers Police Department at (239) 321-7700 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.