Late on the night of April 10th, 2025, an armed man tried to force his way into the wrong apartment at The Carlton of Fort Myers. According to reporting by Madison Adams of Gulf Coast News, the incident happened around 11:39 p.m. on the second floor of Building 4. Residents were jolted awake by loud banging and chaos. Inside the targeted apartment, a group of four young tenants – three women and one man – were about to face a life-altering moment.
The man attempting to enter was 28-year-old Juan Diego. Fort Myers Police confirmed that Diego lived in the complex and had an apartment number similar to the unit he mistakenly tried to access. But most critically, he was armed. The tenants inside had no idea who he was or what his intentions were. When Diego attempted to breach the door, one of the roommates fired a shot, striking him in the chest. Diego died at the scene.
Police Call It Self-Defense, But the Fallout Begins
Fox4 Southwest Florida journalist Stephen Pimpo confirmed that the Fort Myers Police Department has not filed any charges against the shooter, calling it a potential self-defense case. Pimpo interviewed the father of one of the women, Stuart Lurie, who expressed shock – not only at the violence, but at what came next. “She got told by the apartment complex that she and her roommates were getting essentially evicted. They got a seven-day notice to vacate,” Lurie told Fox4.
Despite the traumatic experience, the tenants were given a notice to leave their apartment within a week. The justification? Violating the lease agreement by discharging a firearm on the property.
The Lease Clause That Triggered the Eviction
Fox4 obtained a copy of the seven-day notice issued by The Carlton. It listed a host of infractions that constitute prohibited conduct, including discharging firearms, possessing weapons that alarm others, and any “criminal activity that threatens the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of others.”
The lease does not appear to distinguish between criminal behavior and lawful self-defense. And while the shooter wasn’t arrested or charged, the property managers treated the event as a breach of contract. Liberty Doll, a gun rights YouTuber who covered the story in a recent video, called the decision “outrageous,” pointing out the absurdity of punishing someone for protecting their own life.
“It Just Doesn’t Make Any Sense”
Stuart Lurie expressed his disbelief to both Fox4 and Madison Adams. “If the intruder had gotten in and harmed the occupants, including my daughter, then they’d be allowed to stay?” he asked rhetorically. “It just doesn’t make any sense to me.” His daughter has chosen not to fight the eviction, but the situation raises troubling questions about tenant rights and self-defense protections on private property.
In her video, Liberty Doll posed similar questions: “Do residents have to allow themselves to fall to physical harm and even face the possibility of death just to maintain their lease?” It’s a chilling dilemma – defend yourself and face eviction, or do nothing and risk your life.
A Community Shaken
Neighbors like Robert Burr, whose daughter lives in the apartment next door, said the trauma has left residents rattled. “She was very shaken up, which caused me to get very upset,” Burr told Gulf Coast News. His daughter heard the banging and knew something was wrong. “She wasn’t about to open her door,” he said. Moments later, she witnessed the aftermath – blood on the floor, a body on the ground.
The tragedy could have easily escalated further. “It could have went through her door and hit her and she’d be dead,” Burr added.
The Role of Ring Cameras and Security Policies
One of the ongoing concerns raised by residents is the lack of security options at The Carlton. Burr mentioned that Ring doorbell cameras and other personal surveillance devices are prohibited by the apartment complex. “If they would just allow that, it would definitely help out a lot,” he told Gulf Coast News. He believes that if a doorbell camera had been allowed, the entire situation might have been avoided or at least de-escalated more quickly.
Liberty Doll echoed that concern in her video, questioning why tenants are penalized for protecting themselves while being denied basic tools to monitor their surroundings.
Was It Just a Misunderstanding?
Some reports, including statements from Fort Myers Police, suggest that Juan Diego may have mistakenly tried to enter the wrong apartment. But that still doesn’t explain why he was armed or why he was aggressively banging on a door late at night. Liberty Doll pointed out, “Even if he had no ill will, the women inside obviously didn’t know that.”
This ambiguity doesn’t soften the reality the tenants faced. In the moment, they had no way of knowing whether this was a confused neighbor or a violent attacker. Their decision to act in self-defense, based on the available facts, may have saved lives.
No Charges Filed – But Still Evicted
Despite there being no legal consequences for the woman who fired the shot, the consequences from the property manager were swift and final. Liberty Doll raised a critical question: “If the management company and property owners don’t allow residents to defend themselves, do they have armed security there 24/7 on site? I highly doubt it.”
This story is a stark reminder that private lease agreements can often run counter to public rights, like the Second Amendment or self-defense laws. Even if your actions are legal, they may not be allowed by the contract you signed to live in a privately owned residence.
Seven Days to Leave, No Time to Heal
Eviction notices don’t just affect where someone lives – they destabilize lives, finances, and mental health. Liberty Doll noted, “Seven days is not much time to find a new apartment.” After surviving a terrifying incident and making a split-second decision under extreme stress, these young tenants are now being uprooted with virtually no time to recover.
Lurie, Adams, and Liberty Doll all made it clear: the apartment complex had an opportunity to do the right thing. But as of the latest reporting, no such reconsideration has occurred.
A National Pattern?
Liberty Doll also compared this case to a similar incident in Dallas, where a woman faced eviction after defending herself. That case drew media attention and a state representative got involved – eventually allowing the woman to stay and spurring potential new legislation to prevent evictions for legal self-defense.
“There have been court cases where the courts ruled in favor of tenants,” she noted, “saying you cannot tell people they cannot exercise their Second Amendment rights.” But those cases often involved public housing or government-assisted living situations. For private landlords, the rules are different, and they can be devastating.
The Bigger Picture: Private Rights vs. Public Law
The Carlton Apartments may legally have the right to evict tenants under their lease. But the question remains: should they? When the law supports the tenants’ actions, and the police determine there was no criminal activity, does it make moral or ethical sense to throw them out?
Private property rights matter, but so do the rights of citizens to defend themselves. Cases like this highlight a growing tension in America’s housing system – between policy and principle, safety and contract, and ultimately, between law-abiding gun owners and the places they call home.
What Comes Next?
As of now, the young woman and her roommates are packing up, with no indication that The Carlton will reconsider their decision. Liberty Doll ended her video by saying, “The Carlton still has some time to do the right thing, but the clock is ticking.”
So far, that clock is running out.
This case has ignited broader conversations about tenant rights, gun ownership, and the limits of self-defense in modern housing. It’s not just a local story anymore – it’s a national issue.
For additional information, check out the FOX4 article here, the Gulf Coast News video here, and the Liberty Doll video here.
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, John developed a love for the great outdoors early on. With years of experience as a wilderness guide, he’s navigated rugged terrains and unpredictable weather patterns. John is also an avid hunter and fisherman who believes in sustainable living. His focus on practical survival skills, from building shelters to purifying water, reflects his passion for preparedness. When he’s not out in the wild, you can find him sharing his knowledge through writing, hoping to inspire others to embrace self-reliance.