Mississippi
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.
Mississippi
Thompson defeats Turnage to highlight U.S. House primaries in Mississippi – SuperTalk Mississippi
Political newcomer and Capitol Hill attorney Evan Turnage proved no match for longtime U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, who defeated him and one other challenger to earn the Democratic nomination for Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District on Tuesday.
Some politicos thought Turnage – who went to Yale and later worked for some of Thompson’s Democratic colleagues, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) – wouldn’t necessarily win but could make waves as one of the more viable candidates to challenge Thompson in recent years. However, that wasn’t the case as Thompson garnered approximately 85% of the vote when the race was called.

Thompson, 78, is seeking an 18th term. The civil rights leader who chaired the Jan. 6 Committee was first elected in 1993 and serves as a ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee. He will face either Ron Eller or Kevin Wilson on the Republican side, a race yet to be called as of late Tuesday night, and independent Bennie Foster in November’s general.
All of Mississippi’s U.S. House seats are up for grabs this year.
In the 1st Congressional District, Republican Rep. Trent Kelly ran unopposed, while civil rights attorney and University of Mississippi School of Law professor Cliff Johnson beat former state lawmaker Kelvin Buck in the Democratic primary. Libertarian challenger Johnny Baucom awaits Kelly and Johnson in the general.
In the 3rd Congressional District, both Republican Rep. Michael Guest and Democrat Michael Chiaradio ran unopposed. They will meet Libertarian Erik Kiehle in the general.
In the 4th Congressional District, Republican Rep. Mike Ezell had over 80% of the vote when his race was called against former Mississippi Department of Marine Resources officer and political staffer Sawyer Walters. State Rep. Jeffrey Hulum easily won the Democratic nomination over Paul Blackman and D. Ryan Grover. Ezell and Hulum will face independent Carl Boyanton in the general.
Arguably the most watched races of the night occurred in the state’s lone U.S. Senate seat in this year’s cycle. Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith had no problem with Ocean Springs doctor Sarah Adlakha, seeing her name bolded around 30 minutes after the polls closed. It wasn’t long after that when Lowndes County District Attorney Scott Colom was announced the winner of the Democratic primary over Priscilla Till and Albert Littell. Independent Ty Pinkins will meet Hyde-Smith and Colom in the general on Nov. 3.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Mississippi
Mississippi First Congressional District Primary 2026: Live Election Results, Buck vs. Johnson
Mississippi
Mississippi Top Reads for week of March 15, 2026
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Staff
Sunday, March 15, 2026
1. (tie) “The Irish Goodbye,” Beth Ann Fennelly, Norton; and “Vigil,” George Saunders, Random House
2. “Theo of Golden,” Allen Levi, Atria Books
3. “The Widow,” John Grisham, Doubleday
4. “The Correspondent,” Virginia Evans, Random House
5. “When It’s Darkness on the Delta,” W. Ralph Eubanks, Beacon Press
6. “Eradication,” Jonathan Miles, Doubleday
7. “Neptune’s Fortune,” Julian Sancton, Random House
8. “The Dean,” Sparky Reardon, The Nautilus Publishing Company
9. “Kin,” Tayari Jones, Random House
10. “Brawler,” Lauren Groff, Riverhead
Children and young adults
1. “The Bear and the Hair and the Fair,” Em Lynas, Little Brown
2. “The Hybrid Prince,” Tui T. Sutherland, Scholastic Press
3. “One Mississippi,” Steve Azar,Sarah Frances Hardy (Illustrator), The Nautilus Publishing
4. “If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone,” Gideon Sterer, HarperCollins
5. (tie) “Fancy Nancy: Besties for Eternity,” Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser (Illustrator), HarperCollins; and “The Dark is For,” Jane Kohuth, Simon and Schuster
Adult events (Sunday, March 15–Saturday, March 21)
Amy McDowell in conversation with Jodi Skipper for “Whispers in the Pews,” 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Off Square Books, 129 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2262
Tayari Jones on Thacker Mountain Radio Hour for “Kin,” 6 p.m. Thursday, Off Square Books, 129 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2262
Children’s events (Sunday, March 15–Saturday, March 21)
No Cap Book Club (kids 10-13) will be reading “A Kid’s Book About…,” 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Storytime, “Clifford: Dream Big,” 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Chapter Captains Book Club (kids 6-9) will be reading “Princess in Black: Bathtime Battle,” 6:00 p.m. Thursday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Storytime, “What a Small Cat Needs,” 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Square Books Jr., 111 Courthouse Square, Oxford, 662-236-2207
Story Time, “Very Hungry Caterpillar” Day! 10 a.m. Saturday, Lemuria Books, 202 Banner Hall, 4465 I-55 North, Jackson, 601-366-7619
— Sales and/or Events Reported by Lemuria Books (Jackson); Lorelei Books (Vicksburg); Square Books (Oxford).
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