Posted: January 24, 2022
On January 21, 2022, at approximately 11:47 p.m. a customer was asked to leave the Celtic Ray Public House, located at 145 East Marion Avenue, after causing a disturbance. The individual left the establishment and got into his vehicle. He exited the parking lot with his vehicle lights off and turned north on Nesbit Street and then west on East Marion Avenue firing a weapon that witnesses described as a dark in color AR-15 style rifle into the air. As he continued westbound on East Marion Avenue he fired toward the open Celtic Ray Public House striking the brick veneer of the building below the dining area window and a separate office space next door. Witnesses say he fired additional shots as he turned north onto Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) and that they heard more shots being fired as he drove over the northbound bridge into Port Charlotte. There were no injuries reported. It is believed that this was an isolated incident and the suspect acted in retaliation for being forced to leave the bar. There is no indication that there is any further threat to the public or that this incident is tied to other criminal or gang related activity.
The suspect has been identified by detectives as 28 year old Carlos Colon-Parrilla, who has addresses listed in both Lakeland, Florida and Fort Myers, Florida. It is believed that Colon-Parrilla fled the area. An arrest warrant has been issued for Colon-Parrilla for Discharging a Firearm in Public from a Vehicle with 1000 feet of a Person and two counts of Shooting into an Occupied/Unoccupied Building.
If you have any information about this case or information about the whereabouts of Carlos Colon-Parrilla, please contact Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-780-TIPS or by using the P3 Tips mobile app. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward for information leading to an arrest. If you see Colon-Parrilla call 911. Do not approach him as he is considered armed and dangerous.