Man accused of shooting at and strangling woman at Charlotte County bonfire party

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. —

A North Fort Myers man is accused of shooting at his now ex-girlfriend at a rural bonfire party on Cook Brown Road, near Babcock Ranch, in Charlotte County.

An affidavit said it took first responders 45 minutes to find the victim, who was reportedly being strangled and beaten every few minutes.

The parties are held in unpaved areas with several ATV and dirt trails.

A resident who lives on Cook Brown Road shared that hundreds of people from across the Gulf Coast ride side-by-sides and four-wheelers, hosting bonfire parties late on Friday nights.

Deputies reported that on Nov. 30, Brent Null was accused of firing three rounds at his now ex-girlfriend using an AK-47-style rifle, shortly after the late-night bonfire party ended. Deputies said the incident happened after Null saw his now ex-girlfriend deleting text messages while riding on a side-by-side with her and a friend.

Investigators said Null missed and then was accused of strangling, beating, and bitting the victim's ear until deputies arrived 45 minutes later. Brent was arrested for domestic battery by strangulation on Nov. 30, 2025.

Cape Coral police arrested and booked Null into the Lee County Jail for a separate incident on Thursday, Feb. 19. An affidavit said he was accused of throwing a rock at his boss's house, breaking the window, and stealing a $1,200 watch and $300.

On Friday, Feb. 20, Charlotte County deputies re-arrested Null on additional charges for the Nov. 30 incident, taking him to the Charlotte County jail on charges of kidnapping an adult for ransom or as a shield, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill, and tampering in a felony third-degree proceeding.

An affidavit said Null was accused of threatening to kill the victim, so she didn't report the full story until a later date. Null has no bond while he awaits trial.

Justin Bodine, who lives in the area, expressed his concerns about the potential shutdown of these gatherings, and it would be a shame if a few bad people ruined it.

"It would suck to be shut down because it's really the last place we have to go riding," Bodine said. "Everybody comes out here from Lehigh, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, wherever they come, all the way from Bonita, Naples. I mean, it's just a place to go ATV riding and have fun. All our places have shut down. There's no places to go and have fun."

This is not the first violent incident linked to these large gatherings.

"I heard gunshots, and Brian got shot," Bodine said.

Two weeks ago, Brian Foor was shot in the leg while trying to break up a fight. Foor told Gulf Coast News he was just released from the hospital. Deputies arrested Darrin Hayward Jr. in connection with that case.

"Last Friday night, my friends were out here riding and the cops were on the north end giving tickets," Bodine said.

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