Kevin Girard Palmer, a 19-year-old Black male, was shot in the early morning hours of April 24, 2021, in Cape Coral, Florida. Officers responded around 4:30 a.m. to reports of shots fired in the 100 block of Southeast 6th Street and found multiple shell casings on Southeast 1st Avenue. At about 4:45 a.m. Palmer arrived at Cape Coral Hospital with a gunshot wound to the head and was transferred to Lee Memorial Hospital, where he later died.

Investigators say the shooting followed a disturbance after a Lehigh Acres family rented a vacation home for a 17th birthday. An Instagram post about the party allegedly drew numerous uninvited guests; the disturbance escalated a short distance from the residence and multiple shots were fired. Witnesses reported many gunshots, several vehicles fleeing, and a bullet that pierced a nearby resident’s garage, laundry room, and kitchen.

The Cape Coral Police Department Major Crimes Unit describes the case as unsolved and believes there are people who attended the gathering or were at the scene who have not been identified. Anyone with information or who attended the party is asked to contact Cape Coral police, including through anonymous tip options.