Shooting in Cape Coral: Suspect Arrested After Incident Outside Local Bar
CAPE CORAL, Florida — October 23, 2026 — Authorities previously confirmed an arrest in connection with a shooting outside Mermaid’s Liquor Bar on Del Prado Boulevard North in Cape Coral. The September incident left one man injured, and police identified Dewey Scott Stepp, 47, as the suspect.
Although the headline refers to a shooting and arrest in Cape Coral, the verified case occurred on September 20, 2026. A separate shooting reported today could not be confirmed through the sources reviewed.
According to the Cape Coral Police Department, officers learned about the shooting after the injured man arrived at Cape Coral Hospital with a gunshot wound to his lower leg and two grazing wounds.
Investigators were told that an altercation had occurred inside the bar earlier that evening. The victim and a relative were reportedly outside when the suspect allegedly opened fire in their direction.
Police recovered spent shell casings from the scene and reviewed surveillance footage as part of their investigation. Witness accounts and identification procedures helped detectives establish probable cause for an arrest.
Police said Stepp was arrested on September 24 after his attorney contacted investigators about his intention to surrender. He was subsequently taken to the Lee County Jail.
The charges reported by authorities included aggravated battery, aggravated assault, improper exhibition of a firearm, discharging a firearm in public, criminal mischief and a weapons-related offense.
The charges represent allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Local reporting indicated that Stepp was released on bond following his arrest.
The case was investigated by the Cape Coral Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit. Investigators relied on witness statements, surveillance footage and physical evidence to build the case.
Residents who witness a violent incident should move to safety and contact emergency services rather than approach an armed suspect.
The September shooting and subsequent arrest are documented in police information and local reporting. However, the available sources do not establish that a new shooting occurred in Cape Coral on October 23.
Readers should consult the Cape Coral Police Department newsroom for official updates on this and other local incidents.