Haitian illegal alien charged with bludgeoning Florida mom to death with hammer in gas station attack

A Haitian illegal immigrant has been arrested and charged with the brutal murder of a Florida woman. Rolbert Joachin, 40, is accused of using a hammer to bludgeon a 51-year-old woman to death in an unprovoked attack outside of a Fort Myers gas station. The incident occurred on April 3 around 7:20 am, police said.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Joachin has been unlawfully residing in the United States since 2024, when his temporary protected status (TPS), granted under the Biden administration, expired. He allegedly confessed to the killing during police interrogation.


Rolbert Joachin. Courtesy: DHS

The horrifying murder, captured on surveillance video, shows Joachin attacking a vehicle parked outside of a Chevron gas station with an object in his hand. The victim, a store clerk, exits the convenience store and appears to question Joachin, who then walks towards the woman aggressively and strikes her in the head with a hammer, prompting her to fall to the ground.

Joachin repeatedly attacked the unarmed victim as she lay unconscious in a pool of blood, the video shows. The woman, who has not yet been publicly identified, was pronounced dead at the scene. Local news reported that she was the mother of two teenagers.

DHS said that Fort Myers Police requested the assistance of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to aid in Joachin's arrest, which ultimately led to his capture. Joachin was issued a final order of removal in 2022 after being released into the country by the Biden administration, which later granted the accused killer TPS.

"This illegal alien barbarically hit this woman in the head multiple times with a hammer. This heinous murderer was RELEASED into the country by the Biden administration. Not only did the Biden administration release him into the country, but they then gave him Temporary Protected Status. Their reckless immigration policies cost this woman her life," said DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis in a press release. "The arrest of this criminal is an example of how ICE and local authorities can work together to swiftly bring criminals to justice and make our communities safer."

ICE has lodged an immigration detainer on Joachin, who has been charged with homicide. The New York Post reported that local officers recognized Joachin from previous encounters. Joachin is scheduled to appear back in Court on April 15.

Members of the public can report immigration-related crimes or suspicious activity by calling (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.