Mississippi

Man accused of shooting two in Fort Myers on Saturday caught in Mississippi

Published

1 year ago

March 18, 2025

Man accused of shooting two in Fort Myers on Saturday caught in Mississippi

FORT MYERS, Fla. — A shooting at an apartment complex across from Cypress Lake Middle School sent two people to the hospital Saturday night.

Watch as Fort Myers Community Correspondent, Anvar Ruziev, speaks with neighbors and relatives of the victim:

Man accused of shooting two in Fort Myers on Saturday caught in Mississippi

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the suspected gunman, identified as 35-year-old Roger De Le Cruz, was arrested Monday morning in Mississippi.

Deputies responded to the Cypress West Apartments, located on the 6000 block of Panther Lane, just after 11 p.m. Saturday, following reports of gunfire. Two people were found at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds and were rushed to the hospital. Both victims are currently in stable condition, according to authorities.

Neighbors described a chaotic scene unfolding late at night.

Michael Atkinson lives right next door and described the moment he realized what was happening.

“My daughter’s mother told me, ‘Hey, go check on our daughter.’ I did that, I came back, and by that time, the police had gotten here,” Atkinson said. “That was total confirmation—like, okay, yeah, those were gunshots. Somebody literally opened fire over here in Cypress West. That doesn’t happen.”

Another neighbor, who asked to remain anonymous, said she didn’t hear the gunshots but grew concerned once deputies arrived at her door around 11 p.m.

“I’m terrified for the mother’s sake because she does have a little seven-to-eight-year-old,” the neighbor explained. “I’m just so thrilled to hear that they caught the guy and that he’s being held accountable for what he did.”

A family member of one of the victims confirmed to Fox 4 that she is recovering in the hospital and “doing better.” The family is relieved that the shooter has been apprehended.

The next door neighbor expressed hope for the victims’ recovery.

“I just hope that she has a fast healing recovery—both ladies—and that the boy gets his mom, gets to see his mom soon,” the neighbor said.

Lee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the suspect as 35-year-old Roger De Le Cruz, who fled to Mississippi after the shooting. He was apprehended Monday morning by deputies from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office near Gulfport, Mississippi. De Le Cruz now faces two counts of attempted second-degree murder, and authorities say he also has an ICE hold.

Sheriff Marceno praised the cooperation of law enforcement in capturing De Le Cruz, stating, “My team is working with our State Attorney’s Office and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office to bring Roger De Le Cruz back to Lee County, where he will face the consequences of his heinous crime.”

Detectives confirmed this shooting was isolated, and there is no ongoing threat to the public or nearby Cypress Lake Middle School.

This investigation remains active. Further updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.

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Mississippi

An 1850s Parsonage in Natchez, Mississippi, Is Selling for the First Time in Over a Century

Published

8 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

An 1850s Parsonage in Natchez, Mississippi, Is Selling for the First Time in Over a Century

A 174-year-old brick parsonage house on a bluff above the Mississippi River is now for sale in Natchez, Mississippi, asking $1.985 million.

The home, completed in 1852, was built by architect James Hardie as a residence for Methodist ministers, according to historical records. The land was donated by Peter Little, a wealthy cotton broker and slave owner who built the city’s historic Rosalie mansion.

MORE: ‘Hunger Games’ Director Gary Ross Dug Under His Brooklyn Home to Build a ‘Magical’ Theater

The house was initially built as a one-story residence with an “English” basement and a carriage house; a two-story annex was added later, according to the listing with Douglas Adams of Crescent Sotheby’s International Realty, informed by the Historic Natchez Foundation.

“The location is what is superb because it is one of the highest points in Natchez overlooking the Mississippi River,” said Adams, who posted the listing Thursday.

In 1893, the Parsonage changed hands for the last time when it was purchased by James and Agnes Metcalfe, and has been in the Metcalfe family ever since.

Known as the Parsonage, the residence is considered a classic example of Greek Revival architecture from the pre-Civil War South, with a wide portico, raised porch and sash windows. It is located on South Broadway Street, in a commanding position that overlooks Bluff Park, the Mississippi and downtown Natchez. It spans 6,500 square feet with five bedrooms, two formal parlors flanking a central hall and richly detailed interiors that include original exposed-brick walls, fireplaces and stained-glass windows.

In addition to a front porch, the property includes several outdoor terraces and balconies, including a second-floor wraparound deck and a balustraded rooftop—which has the best vantage point from which to see the wide views.

The home was occupied for many years by the late Albert and Gay Metcalfe, who married at the Parsonage in 1959, and would host events for friends. “It became something of a social hub,” Adams said. “They’d host families to celebrate someone’s life; there may have been some weddings that occurred there.”

Gay Metcalfe died in 2023 and the heirs are her three children, Adams said. The family couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

Hardie, the architect, was a Scottish immigrant who built several other notable buildings in Natchez, including most prominently St. Mary Basilica, a Gothic Revival structure on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Homewood plantation, a Greek Revival mansion.

MORE: Manhattan’s Richest Home Buyers Were Out in Force as $10 Million-Plus Sales Surged in the First Quarter

According to local lore, the Parsonage was commissioned by Little because his wife, Eliza’s religious devotion led her to welcome every passing minister into their home, according to “Natchez,” a 1940s history of the city. Displeased with the “long siege of such guests,” Little decided to build a separate home for his wife’s visitors.

Little’s own mansion at Rosalie still stands today near the site of the 1729 massacre of the Natchez Native Americans, from whom the city takes its name.

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Mississippi Children’s Museum hosts annual Easter event

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20 hours ago

April 5, 2026

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Mississippi Children’s Museum hosts annual Easter event – WJTV

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Measuring Mississippi State baseball’s concern level after sweep by Georgia at home

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1 day ago

April 4, 2026

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Measuring Mississippi State baseball’s concern level after sweep by Georgia at home

STARKVILLE — Mississippi State baseball swept its previous two SEC opponents but fell on the other end against Georgia.

No. 4 MSU (25-7, 7-5 SEC) was swept by No. 5 Georgia (27-6, 10-2) at Dudy Noble Field. It was the first time MSU was swept under first-year coach Brian O’Connor.

Mississippi State lost 10-9 on April 2, 3-1 on April 3 and 8-5 in 10 innings on April 4.

The three straight losses created the longest losing streak of the season. Georgia’s last sweep of MSU at Dudy Noble Field was in 2004.

“I’m not concerned,” O’Connor said. “Listen, you see it all over the place in this league. People get swept and things like that. When I talk to the team, I talk about taking each game like its own individual game.

“… There were certainty plenty of bright spots, but just not enough. I believe we got away from what got us to this point for whatever reason. We have to own that; we have to stand up as men and acknowledge what happened and make the adjustments to get back on the right track and play winning Mississippi State baseball.”

Star third baseman Ace Reese launched a shot that looked like it was going to win Game 3 in the ninth inning, but it was caught at the warning track.

“It’s not concerning at all,” Reese said. “We’re a great ball club. I know what we can do. It was just unfortunate. We didn’t play good enough. We didn’t hit in situations well enough, and we didn’t pitch at the right time well enough.”

What Brian O’Connor wants more of from Mississippi State baseball

O’Connor said he agreed with a reporter’s observation that there was negative body language from Mississippi State players throughout the series.

“Words matter, and I met with the team before the stretch this morning and talked to them specifically about that and what a winner’s mentality looks like,” O’Connor said. “We just have to be better from that standpoint. We have to grow in that area. We showed some immaturity this weekend, and Georgia exposed that.”

Mississippi State fell behind 10-2 in Game 1 in the fifth inning after a poor start from Charlie Foster and relief appearance by Jack Gleason. MSU scored seven unanswered runs after that but failed to drive in the tying run in the ninth inning.

MSU got another outstanding pitching start from Tomas Valincius in Game 2, but never scored after the first inning. Game 3 was tied at 5-5 through six innings until Michael O’Shaughnessy hit a three-run home run in the 10th inning.

Mississippi State left 32 batters on base throughout the series and batted 1-for-22 in the final two games with runners in scoring position.

Georgia also scored numerous runs throughout the series because of passed balls and wild pitches.

“Just overall a tough weekend,” O’Connor said. “That can happen in this league. It’s no excuse. We don’t accept it. We just have to learn from it and play be a little bit more tough-minded and approach the game the right way.”

Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.

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