Crime
Lee County Sheriff’s Office Investigates Fatal Shooting and Barricade Incident in Lehigh Acres
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) has released details regarding a tragic series of events that began with the fatal shooting of a woman in Lehigh Acres and culminated in the death of a suspect from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family suffering from an unimaginable loss this Christmas,” stated Sheriff Carmine Marceno. “This senseless act, and the subsequent incident that followed, is both unfortunate and devastating to our community as a whole. I am incredibly proud of my team members who worked tirelessly over the last 30 hours to conduct a thorough investigation, ultimately providing some form of closure to the victim’s family today.”
Deputies responded to reports of a shooting in the area of Nora Avenue in Lehigh Acres.
Upon arrival, deputies discovered that a female victim had been fatally shot.
The suspect fled the scene before law enforcement arrived.
Due to the severity of the crime, the LCSO Homicide Unit, alongside the Electronic Surveillance Unit, Real-Time Intelligence Center, and the State Attorney’s Office, launched an intensive investigation. Detectives established probable cause to arrest the suspect for Second-Degree Murder and Battery on a Person 65 or Older.
Tuesday morning, the LCSO Special Operations Unit (SOU) responded to a residence on 9th Street Southwest in Lehigh Acres, where the suspect was believed to be barricaded.
SOU members collaborated with the Electronic Surveillance Unit, Major Crimes Unit, Fugitive Warrants Unit, and K9 Unit to gain access to the home.
During the operation to locate and apprehend the suspect, deputies discovered a deceased male inside the residence. Preliminary findings indicate that the individual died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The investigation remains active as detectives work to piece together the events surrounding both incidents.
Sheriff Marceno reiterated the department’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community, even during such tragic circumstances.
The LCSO extends its deepest sympathies to the victim’s family and encourages anyone with additional information to come forward.
For further details or to provide information, contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Crime
Indiana Man Arrested for Allegedly Threatening to Assassinate President Trump in TikTok Videos
A 23-year-old Indiana man has been arrested and charged with making threats against former President Donald Trump after allegedly posting multiple threatening videos on TikTok, federal authorities announced Thursday.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the FBI, Douglas Thrams posted a series of videos between Monday—when Trump was inaugurated—and Wednesday, in which he allegedly threatened anti-government violence and called for the assassination of the former president.
In one of the videos cited in the complaint, Thrams reportedly stated, “Every U.S. government building needs to be bombed immediately.” He further escalated his rhetoric by saying, “He [Trump] needs to be assassinated, and this time, don’t… miss,” using explicit language.
Authorities noted that Thrams’ statements were particularly concerning in light of previous assassination attempts targeting Trump, including an incident last year at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where the former president sustained a minor injury to his ear.
Additionally, an FBI affidavit revealed that in another video, Thrams was seen holding a rifle and tapping it, an action investigators interpreted as an implied threat.
Thrams was taken into custody on Thursday and has been charged with “interstate communications with a threat to injure,” a federal offense.
The case remains under investigation, and authorities have not disclosed any further potential threats. Thrams is expected to appear in federal court in the coming days.