Neighbor concerns continues after pickaxe attack leads to self-defense shooting in Lehigh Acres

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. (WINK) — A man is behind bars after attacking someone with a pickaxe during an argument in Lehigh Acres.

The Lee County Sheriff's Office said Eddie Jordan II shoved the pickaxe into the victim's back, knocking him to the ground. Jordan then stood over the victim, threatening to strike him. That's when the victim shot Jordan in self-defense says LCSO.

"We're not gonna tolerate these types of homes in our communities," Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said. "People need to live with safety and law and order."

Neither the victim nor Jordan chose to press charges Monday night. The sheriff's office was called back to the home for an altercation between the victim and Jordan.

Neighbors tell WINK News they heard seven shots around 3:30 in the morning. Early Wednesday morning, the victim decided to press charges.

"Our suspect has a history of fraud and a violation of probation," Marceno said. "So no stranger to law enforcement, and now he's charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon."

Neighbor Chris Wolff said the days following the shooting have been a nightmare.

"I was up for two days at that point," Wolff said. "It was crazy. The stress of it is at an all-time high level. None of the kids go outside. Families don't go outside anymore. We don't go on walks anymore."

Wolff said it's not just this week, but years of loud, strange encounters with people living in the woods behind his house and violent behavior that has left his family in fear.

" You have absolutely no idea what it's like to have your two children scared to go outside. My son last night, I had to comfort him and tell him, you know, 'Daddy won't let anything happen to you'." Wolff said. "I am a strong, faithful man, but I don't know that I can protect my family against that many people that are out of their minds, and it's scary."

Wolff said more than a dozen people live on the half-acre lot in the two-bedroom home, campers and tents in the wooded areas.

"It's a slew of problems," Wolff said. "And it's terrifying for us. It's honestly, it's terrifying."

The sheriff said the 2nd Precinct will continue to patrol the area.

"We wanna clean things up the best we can, so I'm not gonna tolerate it," Marceno said. "The great residents in Lehigh deserve the same service as anywhere else, and they will get that service."

Jordan is currently booked in the Lee County Jail for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.