Suspect in shooting, fire in Lee County Jail

Renel Joseph, of Punta Gorda, was initially taken to Fort Myers for treatment

DANIEL FINTON

Staff Writer

PUNTA GORDA — Renel Joseph, 51, is in custody at the Lee County Jail after an all-night standoff that began after he allegedly battered a family member, set fire to a vehicle and his own home, and fired shots at officers.

The situation began late Monday and lasted through the early hours of Tuesday at the 28000 block of Pasadena Drive in Punta Gorda.

Law enforcement and firefighters were dispatched to the home.

Joseph, according to authorities, is a convicted felon and an illegal immigrant. At a news conference Tuesday, Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell said CCSO were going to work with partners Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement on the case.

Prummell said the situation started in the home as a verbal dispute with Joseph and his family that turned violent.

According to Prummell, Joseph allegedly turned “violent” and “battered” a family member.

Prummell said Joseph then went to his room where family members heard him loading a gun.

Joseph, Prummell said, made comments saying he would kill his family and any responding law enforcement.

The family became “fearful,” and went to a neighbor’s house and called 911, Prummell said.

CCSO deputies came and then eventually SWAT was called out as Joseph would not leave his home. Prummell said he was locked inside and would not come out.

Joseph did, however, come out at a point and set a vehicle at the house on fire and then he “barricaded” himself inside of the home.

He then shot at the armored vehicles outside of the house and eventually at two deputies who

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Fires started by Renel Joseph, 51, earlier this week in Punta Gorda left a car and the home damaged. Joseph is now in custody in Lee County. Pictured, smoke was coming out of multiple places of the home.

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were in the home’s backyard.

No officers were harmed, Prummell said.

Prummell said Joseph went back inside the home and started to set the house on fire.

Joseph eventually came out and surrendered. At that point, it was discovered that he had been shot in the hand. He was taken to the hospital in Fort Myers for surgery.

Charlotte County Fire & EMS Public Information Officer Ashley Turner said Joseph was driven to the hospital as a “trauma alert.”

“Fire & EMS personnel were initially dispatched to the area around 9 p.m. Monday, and remained at a safe location while CCSO handled the incident,” Turner said.

“At approximately 6:53 a.m.

Tuesday, CCSO cleared fire crews to enter the scene. Engine 7 arrived to find a residential structure with smoke showing from three sides. Firefighters initiated an offensive attack and worked to extinguish the fire,” Turner said.

The vehicle that was on fire, Turner said, was also extinguished.

After medical treatment, Joseph was booked into the Lee County Jail on a Charlotte County arrest warrant.

As of Wednesday, he remained in the Lee County Jail with no bond.

There is no photo attached to his arrest.

Prummell said Tuesday the incident remains under investigation.

CCSO Public Information Officer Chris Hall said he had no updates on Joseph or suspects who are “awaiting transport or ICE detainer information.”

Fires started by Renel Joseph, 51, earlier this week in Punta Gorda left a car and the home damaged. Joseph is now in custody in Lee County. Pictured, firefighters respond to the scene.

PHOTO PROVIDED