Fort Myers' 24th homicide reported

Fort Myers police found a man dead in a home at 2353 Lafayette St. on Sunday morning a few hours after a fire was reported in a neighboring home.

Police received a call at 7:29 a.m. in reference to an injured male inside the home near City of Palms Park.

A neighbor arriving home to deal with the fire made the discovery and called 911.

Police and Lee County Emergency Medical Services determined the man was deceased, and police are investigating the death as a murder. Police had no information if the fire and the homicide were connected.

The death is the 24th homicide in Fort Myers this year.

Police roped off the area around the home and, with assistance from The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, investigators obtained a search warrant at the residence. Police were also working to notify the victim’s family.

The fire earlier was at a home at the intersection of Lafayette and Central streets.

No one was home, but there were six pitbulls at the house that were rescued. Late Sunday afternoon all six dogs were still at the home, three in crates in the front yard and three restrained in the backyard.

There was no extensive damage to the home, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.