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Visitation set for man shot on sales call

5 min read

Visitation for family and friends of a Fort Myers man who was fatally shot this week while working in a Cape Coral neighborhood is set for today.

Nicholas Robert Rainey, 30, died Wednesday after being shot outside of a home at 1815 S.W. 30th Terrace. Rainey’s family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. July 28 at Mullins Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

Born Feb. 4, 1982, in Perth Amboy, N.J., he was a Fort Myers resident for eight years and a door-to-door salesman for Blue Ribbon Steak and Seafood.

“He was a loving, caring and outgoing man, and will be forever missed by his family and friends,” an obituary released Friday by the funeral home said.

He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Louise (John) Pirigyi of Fort Myers; father and stepmother, Stephen (Linda) Rainey of New Jersey; brother, Chad Everett of Fort Myers; stepsister, Kelly Rainey of New Jersey; maternal grandparents, Grace Fodor and Robert Fels of New Jersey; and paternal grandmother, Emma Rainey of New Jersey.

Rainey was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, William Rainey.

Monetary memorial contributions are being suggested to Rainey’s family in care of Mullins Memorial Funeral Home, according to the obituary.

His family and friends can send condolences via an online guest book.

Kenneth Bailey Roop, 52, of 1815 S.W. 30th Terrace, was arrested and charged Wednesday with homicide murder dangerous depraved without premeditation in Rainey’s death. He is being held without bond at the jail.

Local attorneys John Musca and Marquin Rinard are representing him.

“We’re just trying to piece together all the pieces right now,” Rinard said Friday of the case. “I think it would be premature to discuss anything.”

Roop’s arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 27.

Circuit Court Judge Mark Steinbeck has been assigned.

At about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Cape police responded to numerous calls about a man, later identified as Rainey, who had been shot at 1815 S.W. 30th Terrace. He was found dead in the driveway with multiple gunshot wounds.

According to officials, there was a confrontation between Roop and Rainey, who was going door to door selling for Blue Ribbon. Roop then shot Rainey.

A message left for Blue Ribbon Steak and Seafood was not returned.

Sgt. Kristin Shiner, with the corrections department at the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, was the first to arrive outside of Roop’s home Wednesday. A neighbor of Roop, she was off duty at home when she heard shots fired.

“I was sitting on my patio reading when I heard two gun shots,” she said.

Shiner exited her patio and saw a man running down the street screaming for someone to call 911. Shiner stopped him and asked if those were gunshots.

“He said, ‘A guy down the road just shot my friend,'” she said, adding that the man was also a Blue Ribbon salesman who was working with Rainey.

Shiner retrieved her department issued gun and badge. When she arrived outside of Roop’s home, she found Rainey lying face down on the ground with an apparent gunshot wound to the shoulder. She did not seen anyone else.

“I tried to see if I could get any response from him,” Shiner said. “I felt a shallowed breath – he was unresponsive.”

“That’s when I turned my attention to the garage,” she added. “I heard the sound of a gun slide.”

Inside the garage, next to a pickup truck, Roop stood with a weapon. Shiner identified herself as a deputy and ordered him to put down the weapon.

“The third time he appeared to bend down and place it on the ground,” she said, adding that Roop then stood back up and lifted his hands in the air.

Shiner ordered him to come out of the garage and lay on the ground.

“I just detained him at gunpoint until the Cape Coral PD arrived,” she said, adding that it was only minutes until Cape officers were on scene.

Only a resident of the southwest neighborhood for about three months, Shiner said she was surprised by the events that took place Wednesday.

“It’s a quiet neighborhood with lots of families,” she said.

“It’s not something you expect to happen,” Shiner added.

Having never before met her neighbor, Roop, Wednesday was also the first time she has drawn her department issued weapon, on duty or off duty. With the Collier sheriff’s office for nine years, Shiner is dual certified in Florida.

“It was a first time – it was necessary,” she said. “Whether I’m on duty or off duty, I’m still there to protect and serve the public.”

During the incident, Shiner’s first thought was safety. She knew someone was shot and in need of aid, and the safety and security of others were key.

“I focused on the victim at first, until I heard the slide of the gun, then my focus was redirected on making sure everyone was safe,” Shiner said.

She is thankful that no one else was injured during the incident.

“That it came to a peaceful end quickly,” Shiner said. “And my heart goes out to the family (of Rainey).”

Roop’s wife, Wanda, is a procurement manager for the city of Cape Coral’s Financial Services Department. Officials reported that she was hired in 2007.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home is at 1056 N.E. Seventh Terrace.

The online guest book is at: www.MullinsMemorial.com.