Sentencing is scheduled for August 10th for defendant Elwood Robinson. He was convicted of
two counts of Second-Degree Murder, Aggravated Battery with a Firearm, Aggravated Assault
with a Firearm, and Falsely Personating a Law Enforcement Officer. The jury returned the
verdict late yesterday following a three-day trial in Lee County.
The crimes happened when several high school aged kids were hanging out late at night on
November 16th and the early morning of the 17th, 2018, in Alva, at a gathering spot called
“Linwood.” The defendant heard a loud argument from that area, while in his house, located
about a quarter mile away.
The defendant drove his truck to the area, near the Caloosahatchee River, where he encountered
the first victim. It was a teen who flagged Robinson down and asked him for help due to being
stranded and needing a ride home. Robinson told him not to worry, that he was a police officer,
and would take care of the situation. The teen got into his truck.
Another teen then drove out of the area in a car and Robinson tried to block the car. He then
chased the car at speeds of over 100 mph. The teen was able to lose him. The first teen was still
in the defendant’s front passenger seat during the chase.
Rather than take the teen home as he requested, the defendant went back to the Linwood area.
Two people showed up, a male and female, to retrieve her car. When they arrived, the defendant
got out of his truck with a 357 revolver and ordered the male to the ground. He did this while
pointing the gun at him and telling them that he was a police officer and would take him to
prison. He then ordered the female to get the first teen out of his truck claiming it was his son.
Two more people arrived, friends of some of the captive teens, and saw the gun. One, attempting
to protect his friend on the ground, tried to disarm the defendant and pushed him. The defendant
stumbled and then got up and shot the teen on the ground in the back of the head. He then shot
the teen who pushed him. Both of the teenagers were killed.
After killing the two male teens, the defendant turned and fired at a female victim. She was
struck in her right hand, the bullet grazed her shoulder, partially hitting her neck. She survived.
The defendant then pointed his firearm at another girl but did not shoot. The teens then fled to a
friend’s house where 911 was called. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation.
Assistant State Attorney Andreas Gardiner of our Homicide Unit and Assistant State Attorney
John Dommerich Jr., Lee County Assistant Felony Division Chief, prosecuted the case.
Samantha Syoen
Communications Director
State Attorney’s Office
239-533-1125
ssyoen@sao.cjis20.org