Investigators say two victims identified the same youth minutes apart on Dec. 12.
FORT MYERS, Fla. — A 12-year-old identified by deputies as Pedro Luis was arrested Friday on two counts of armed robbery after the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said he confronted two people with a knife near Schandler Hall Community Park during separate incidents reported six minutes apart.
Deputies said the evening calls began on Chattanooga Drive at 6:40 p.m., then shifted back to the park at 6:46 p.m., outlining a tight timeline that helped tie the cases together. Both victims later picked the same juvenile from a photo lineup, investigators said. Luis was taken into custody at his residence and processed at the Lee County Jail with an immigration hold noted in booking records. The arrests punctuated a fast-moving investigation centered on a neighborhood park that serves local youth teams and after-school programs.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the first victim told deputies a boy jumped from bushes along Chattanooga Drive, showed a knife and said, “Give me your shoes.” The victim shoved past and ran; when the victim felt a hit to the back and turned, the suspect was already gone, deputies said. Minutes later, at Schandler Hall Community Park, a second victim reported a boy rolled up on a bicycle, produced a knife and warned he would stab if the victim resisted. The boy took a backpack and left the area, investigators said.
Deputies listed the backpack’s contents as a $90 bag containing $140 AirPods, $150 cologne, a school-issued Dell laptop, cash and $50 jeans. Investigators said a social media post appeared to show the backpack while the poster obscured his face; the post was later deleted, according to the victim’s account provided to deputies. Both victims separately identified Luis in a photo array, authorities said, and detectives moved to make an arrest at his home. No physical injuries requiring treatment were detailed by officials, and investigators have not publicly said whether they recovered the items.
Schandler Hall Community Park sits in a busy corridor of east Fort Myers neighborhoods, where evening practices and pickup games often fill lots and pathways. Recent agency summaries show most calls near the park have involved disturbances and thefts rather than robberies with weapons, though youth-involved incidents have drawn wider concern countywide. Armed robbery, even when charged against a juvenile, carries felony penalties under Florida law. In similar cases, prosecutors review age, evidence and any criminal history before deciding whether to keep charges in juvenile court or pursue them in adult court. Officials have not announced that decision in this case.
The Sheriff’s Office said Luis was arrested without incident and booked Friday. He faces two counts of armed robbery and remains subject to an immigration hold. Next steps include a juvenile detention hearing and formal filings in court; dates were not immediately available from authorities. Investigators said they are continuing to canvass homes and park facilities for video and to follow up on tips tied to the timing and route described by witnesses. No other suspects were named.
Parents and park users voiced unease after the arrest. “We’re out here most evenings,” said a father who watched practice from his car and did not want his name used. “Seeing lights near the fields after dark is jarring.” A neighbor off Chattanooga Drive said the path where the first incident occurred is a common shortcut for kids walking home. “It’s usually quiet. People are shaken,” she said. A Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said extra patrols would monitor the area as the investigation advances.
As of Sunday, the boy remained charged with two counts of armed robbery connected to the Dec. 12 encounters. Authorities said further updates would come after initial court scheduling posts publicly. Investigators are still reviewing evidence and confirming whether any of the property has been recovered.
Author note: Last updated December 21, 2025.