On Wednesday May 9, at approximately 7:19 p.m., a deputy with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was conducting traffic enforcement on I-75 in North Fort Myers.

According to a LCSO report, the deputy attempted to conduct traffic stop on a black, Dodge Caravan travelling south. The driver refused to stop and made several evasive maneuvers.

At one point, the driver swerved the mini-van at the deputy, the report states. The pursuit proceeded from the Interstate and ended when the vehicle came to a stop at the intersection of Cemetery Road and Stratton Road in the Buckingham area of Lee County.

Three individuals fled from the mini-van. One was taken into custody with the assistance of a Sheriff’s Office K-9. He is identified as Gregory Coleman, 24, of Lehigh Acres.

A second, the driver, identified by the LCSO as 31-year-old Jimmie Lee Matthews of Lehigh Acres, was involved in a struggle with the deputy who initiated the traffic stop. During the altercation the deputy and assailant sustained gunshot wounds. Matthews died as a result of those injuries, according to a Sheriff’s Office report.

The deputy was transported to the hospital and is recovering.

Due to the nature of the incident, the Major Crimes Unit assumed the investigation. The third occupant who fled from the vehicle has not been located, however, is not deemed a threat to the community.

The investigation continues.