CAPE CORAL, FL — A man was injured after Cape Coral police shot him Wednesday during a response to a disturbance call on the city’s northwest side. Police Chief Anthony Sizemore said officers were sent to a home on Northeast 10th Terrace after a caller reported a man at the door with a knife and handgun who kicked the door in.
Family members told dispatchers the man was an unwelcome relative. Officers later found him hiding behind a dumpster at City Mattress, where police say he came out and pointed a handgun at law enforcement. Two officers fired, and the man was taken to surgery. Police identified him as Daniel Eric Colon, 43.
Police say the disturbance began at a home on Northeast 10th Terrace
According to Sizemore, the first call came from a home on Northeast 10th Terrace, where family members reported a confrontation involving an unwelcome family member. The caller said the man had both a knife and a handgun and forced his way toward the door.
After the man left the residence, officers moved into the area to look for him. The initial report set off a larger response as police tried to locate the suspect nearby. The chief said the sequence of events moved quickly after officers arrived, with the search shifting from the home to surrounding streets and businesses.
Police did not say what led to the original argument at the home or how long the man had been there before officers were called.
Officers found Colon near City Mattress and say he raised a handgun
Investigators say Colon was hiding behind a dumpster at City Mattress when officers spotted him. Sizemore said he then came out and pointed a handgun at law enforcement, prompting the two officers to open fire. Police have not released the number of rounds fired or said exactly how long the confrontation lasted.
Colon was identified as the person shot in the encounter. Officers immediately provided first aid at the scene, police said, and he was undergoing surgery by the time of the news conference. No law enforcement officers were injured.
Police said the officers involved were placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure after a shooting involving police gunfire.
Heavy law enforcement response closed in around Pine Island Road
The shooting scene drew a large police presence near Pine Island Road, with caution tape blocking off the area and more than a dozen law enforcement units responding. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol also assisted at the scene.
The incident area stretched near Northeast 15th Place and Northeast 9th Street, where officers were seen speaking with neighbors. A forensics unit also responded to document the scene and collect evidence.
Traffic and business activity in the area appeared to slow as investigators worked around the cordoned-off blocks. Police did not immediately release a broader timeline for when the scene would clear.
Neighbors and business owners describe confusion after gunshots near Tire Kingdom
People who live and work nearby said they were unsure what had happened when the police response began. Some neighbors and business owners told Gulf Coast News they heard or noticed the commotion without knowing the reason for the heavy law enforcement presence.
One man said his father and son heard gunshots near Tire Kingdom, adding to the confusion in the area as officers worked the scene. The remarks reflected the uncertainty around the shooting and the rapid police response that followed the 911 call.
Police have not said whether any bystanders were in danger during the encounter, and no additional injuries were reported.
What police have said so far about the shooting investigation
As of the news conference, the Cape Coral Police Department had identified Colon as the person shot and said he remained in surgery. Chief Sizemore’s account is the main public explanation for why officers opened fire, centered on Colon allegedly pointing a handgun at them after coming out from behind the dumpster.
The department has not announced any criminal charges, and officials have not detailed whether investigators recovered the handgun or knife described in the initial call. Police also have not said whether body-camera video or other recordings are part of the review.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement or another outside agency has not been announced as the lead investigator in the publicly available information.
From the Twin Cities to the border and back, Travel Your Way keeps Minnesota informed.