Deputies said the boy lost consciousness after a fight outside a home in The Place community.
ESTERO, FL — Four teenagers have been arrested after Lee County deputies said a boy was beaten and choked until he lost consciousness during a house party Sunday in an Estero neighborhood.
The arrests followed a reported fight outside a home in The Place, a residential community along Corkscrew Road. Deputies identified the arrested teens as Joshua Martinez, Joseph Gabrielsen, Waldo Roca and Evan Fajardo. The victim, a Bishop Verot Catholic High School student, was taken to Gulf Coast Medical Center for treatment after the attack.
According to an arrest report, a witness told deputies she heard people talking about a fight during the party before the violence moved outside. Deputies said four teens struck the victim multiple times. Roca is accused of putting the boy in a chokehold and dragging him backward while the others continued punching him. The boy fell to the ground and lost consciousness, deputies said. Robert Schmidt, who lives near the area and said he had heard students talking about the incident, said the reported attack was hard to understand. “I do hear other kids talking about it,” Schmidt said. “Nothing prepared me for how brutal it really was.”
The homeowner told deputies he ended his son’s party after it got out of hand. He said the fight happened outside the home. When he later went outside, he saw the victim lying on the ground, according to the report. Deputies said the victim needed stitches and underwent a CT scan at Gulf Coast Medical Center. Officials did not release the boy’s name. The report did not say what led to the fight, how many people were at the party or whether alcohol was involved. It also did not say whether any weapons were used. The names of the four arrested teens were released by authorities, but detailed court information was not immediately available.
The reported assault brought concern to schools and families in south Lee County because the victim attends Bishop Verot Catholic High School. The school is part of the Diocese of Venice. The diocese’s communications director said the school was aware of the attack and that the student was able to return to school Monday. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office also said its Youth Services division and School Threat Enforcement Team were notified after the arrests. Deputies added extra patrols at Estero High School on Monday morning. Cedar Riley, who saw deputies on campus, said the situation was frightening. “I think that’s scary for that child, its parents and everything,” Riley said.
The case remains in the early court and investigative stage. Deputies have not released a full timeline beyond the Sunday party and Monday school response. It was not immediately clear whether all four teens had attorneys, whether they would be handled in juvenile or adult court, or what specific charges prosecutors will pursue. Arrest reports often start a criminal case, but prosecutors decide which charges move forward in court. Investigators are expected to review witness statements, medical records and any video from the party or neighborhood. Officials also have not said whether the homeowner or party host could face any separate review.
The Place, where deputies said the party took place, is a large gated community near Corkscrew Road, east of U.S. 41. The area includes many families and students who attend schools in Estero, Fort Myers and nearby parts of Lee County. The attack drew attention because it involved several teens against one victim and because deputies said the boy was unconscious while the beating continued. Schmidt said the long-term harm was a concern. “To get beaten to the ground and continuously get beaten on while unconscious, it could be very harmful for him and for the rest of his life,” he said. Neighbors and students described the extra patrols as a visible sign that the case had moved beyond a private party dispute.
The Sheriff’s Office said school safety teams have been made aware of the arrests. The next public step is expected through court records or an additional update from investigators as the case moves forward.
Author note: Last updated May 19, 2026.