Two Dead, One Injured In Probable Murder/Suicide

"LEHIGH ACRES, FL — Maple Avenue South in Lehigh Acres and the surrounding neighborhood were quiet Tuesday.

"It was a far different scene Monday night and into the early morning when dozens of distraught people took to the streets after learning of an incident that left a woman and her ex-boyfriend dead and the woman’s son injured with a gunshot wound.

"The Lee County Sheriff’s Office identified the deceased as Romie Franklin Jr., 50, and Laverne James, 48.

"The sheriff’s office has not officially commented on the cause of the deaths, but a close friend of James said the deaths were the result of an apparent murder/suicide.

"On Tuesday, the road leading up to James’ home at 216 Fireside Court remained closed and the house and yard were taped off as investigators tried to piece together the events that led to the deaths.

"It was a chaotic scene Monday night in Lehigh Acres as deputies responded at 8:51 p.m. to the residence on a call of a shooting that had injured a man.

"The sheriff’s office said several witnesses ran out of the house during the initial shooting.

"As events unfolded and the sheriff’s office reported the male shooter was barricaded in the residence, possibly with a hostage.

"After evacuating nearby residences and streets, a sheriff’s office special operations unit responded to the house and entered to find Franklin and James dead, according to a sheriff’s office release."

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