Gunfire erupted at a nightclub hosting a swimsuit-themed party for teens in Fort Myers, Florida, leaving two teens dead and at least 17 other people wounded, officials said Monday.

It was not immediately clear what triggered the violence, but police said terrorism had been ruled out.

"This was not an act of terror. This was not a terrorist act," Fort Myers interim police Chief Dennis Eads told reporters Monday afternoon.

Police have three people in custody, but Eads said they are still looking for additional suspects.

The shooting took place in the parking lot of the Club Blu nightclub just after 12:30 a.m. ET. Violence broke out as parents were picking up their kids from the club, which had hosted a night for teens, billed as a "Swimsuit Glow Party."

The two teens killed were 14-year-old Sean Archilles and 18-year-old Stef'an Strawder, police said. One of them died at the scene and the other was pronounced dead at the hospital.

People embrace after the fatal shooting at Club Blu in Fort Myers, Fla. ( Kinfay Moroti/The News-Press/Associated Press)

Archilles lived about a mile from the nightclub, said his father, Jean Archilles. Archilles said his son loved to play football and basketball.

"He liked to make people laugh. He's a funny kid. He's always joking," Jean Archilles said.

He said he doesn't wish bad for the shooter.

"When he lays down in his bed, how is he feeling about what he did? A 14-year-old kid!" Archilles said. "Is he thinking about his family, his friends? Because everybody has family and friends. Does he feel good about himself?"

Four people remained hospitalized Monday morning, Lee Memorial Health System's chief administrative officer Lisa Sgarlata said at a news conference Monday morning. She said two are in fair condition and two are in critical condition.

All others were treated and released.

The ages of the victims range from 12 to 27.

Police said they want to talk to some of the victims who were treated and released from the hospital and haven't yet spoken with investigators.

"It is imperative that all persons who were involved with this incident come forward so that this incident can be properly documented and statements obtained from all involved," Fort Myers police Capt. Jim Mulligan said.

An aerial view of the crime scene surrounding Club Blu in Fort Myers, Fla., on Monday. Police said the gunfire, which erupted at a swimsuit-themed party for teens, was not an act of terrorism. (Luke Franke/Naples Daily News via AP)

A post on Club Blu's Facebook page Monday morning said there was armed security at the event.

"We are deeply sorry for all involved," the post read. "We tried to give teens what we thought was a safe place to have a good time."

Syreeta Gary told local WFTX-TV her daughter ran and dodged between shots to avoid being shot. Her daughter was OK, but her daughter's friend "got hit in the leg and luckily it's just her leg," she said.

"Her dodging bullets and running, dropping in between cars, it's ridiculous that these kids have to go through this," Gary said.

3 detained

Police detained three people and said the area around the club had been deemed safe, Mulligan said in a statement.

However, several hours later a street in the area remained closed as police investigated.

Mulligan said there were two other crime scenes related to the club shooting: one at a residence where they say vehicles were shot at, resulting in a minor injury, and they detained a person of interest at another location.

Law enforcement removed some of the police tape by Monday morning, allowing the media and public to get closer to the entrance to Club Blu.

There were bullet holes in concrete planters and wooden support beams. Sheriff's evidence markers were still affixed to the holes. The letter "A" was attached near a post, while nearby "L," "M," "N" and "O" were marked near a planter filled with scraggly foliage.

"It breaks my heart. No family should have to endure this kind of pain," said Sylvia Bargouthi, a mother who didn't know any of the victims. "Children should be able to enjoy their life without being brutally murdered."

Bargouthi carried a small stuffed animal with her and placed it near the club's entrance.

Club's alcohol licence revoked

The club is in a strip mall that includes a daycare centre and is across the street from a large apartment complex. Officers had the area taped off as crime scene technicians scoured the strip mall parking lot for clues.

Officials investigate the scene of the shooting, which took place in the parking lot of the Club Blu. (Lynne Sladky/Associated Press)

Online state records show the alcohol licence for the club was revoked June 7.

The records from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation state that Club Blu's licence was revoked due to an incident that occurred a year ago, but there are no details available.

The same records also show a complaint was filed in 2014 for "criminal activity" and that the club was given an official notice.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott cancelled his scheduled events for the day to meet with officials in Fort Myers. He spoke at a news conference on Monday afternoon, where he defended the right to carry guns.

"I support the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment has never shot anybody," he said. "The goal would be this never happens again."

The shooting has come just six weeks after a nightclub shooting in Orlando that was the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history. The shooting at the Pulse nightclub on June 12 left 49 victims dead and 53 others wounded.​