FORT MYERS, Fla. — A viral video on Facebook is prompting an investigation into what started an apparent mall fight at a Florida mall.
The video was filmed near the Victoria's Secret store in Edison Mall in Fort Myers on Sunday, according to David Milburn, who posted the video on Facebook. Milburn posted the video on Sunday at 6:25 p.m. and it has already been viewed 222,000 times.
The video shows a group of people punching and kicking one another. At one point in the video, a woman seen pushing a child in a stroller appears to kick one of the women in the head.
It appears both men and women were involved in the brawl as others filmed.
Fort Myers Police announced Monday that officers responded to the scene and interviewed the alleged victims and filed a simple battery report. The victims claim the fight started over comments about a Lehigh double murder that happened Friday night.
Complainant Mariesha Williams told deputies she was approached by an aggressor, who said "his blood is on your hands," referring to Samuel Jones, 22, who died in the Lehigh shooting.
The fight video has prompted Fort Myers-based WFTX to reach out to mall management to find out if there are plans to increase security during the holiday shopping season. They have not answered the requests.
The Fort Myers Police Department tells WFTX they will continue increased patrols around the mall for the holiday season. Captain Jay Rodriguez sent the following statement:
"The Edison Mall is just one of many locations that we provide extra patrols for during the holiday season. Nothing to do with yesterday’s incident."
WFTX has also confirmed the Florida Department of Children and Families is investigating the mother seen in the video, who left her child alone in the mall as she fought. They stated they have not had prior incidents with the child or mother.
