Fort Myers, Florida — Federal and local authorities have arrested Rolbert Joachin, a Haitian national illegally present in the United States, in connection with the savage murder of an innocent mother who was repeatedly struck in the head with a hammer at a local gas station.
The incident occurred on April 3 when Fort Myers Police Department officers responded to a horrific crime scene at the gas station. Surveillance footage, which has been widely circulating on social media, shows the suspect brutally attacking the victim multiple times. Officials described the killing as a senseless act that has shocked the community and underscored the importance of immigration enforcement for public safety.
Kelly Walker, acting field office director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations in Miami, addressed the tragedy during a joint press briefing. “This is a tragic moment and an awful time, and an awful reason to come together as we talk about a woman who was savagely murdered in our community at the hands of a violent illegal alien,” Walker said.
Through coordinated efforts involving the Fort Myers Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the U.S. Marshals Service, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and other agencies, the suspect was swiftly located and apprehended. Walker credited the rapid response and strong law enforcement partnerships in Florida for the arrest.
Joachin is currently being held at the Lee County Jail on charges of homicide and property damage. ICE has issued an immigration detainer, ensuring he will not be released into U.S. communities.
According to Walker, Joachin first entered the United States on August 9, 2022, near Key West, Florida, following a maritime smuggling operation. He was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol and turned over to ICE for detention. An immigration judge issued a final order of removal on September 9, 2022. However, the prior administration released him into the United States and later granted him Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
As of this week, the current Trump Administration revoked his TPS protections. On June 27, 2025, the administration announced the termination of TPS for Haiti, determining that country conditions had improved sufficiently for safe returns. Walker noted that TPS was never intended as a permanent stay but had been abused for decades as a de facto amnesty program. Recent court actions, including a Supreme Court request on March 11 to clear the way for ending TPS for more than 350,000 Haitian immigrants, reflect ongoing efforts to restore integrity to the immigration system.
Fort Myers Police Chief Jason Fields emphasized the strength of interagency cooperation. “Robart Walkin was taken into custody after an extensive, coordinated manhunt,” Fields said. “From the beginning, our commitment was unwavering, and our message was clear: we were not going home until he was in custody.” He thanked federal, state, and local partners, as well as community members who assisted in the apprehension, and praised State Attorney Amira Fox and her team for pursuing justice for the victim and her family.
Micah McCombs, acting special agent in charge for HSI covering Southwest Florida, described the partnerships as extremely strong. He noted the victim was a U.S. citizen who had immigrated legally from Bangladesh six years earlier, calling the crime “senseless” and a video “you can never unwatch.”
During the briefing, officials confirmed Joachin arrived via a water vessel in a maritime smuggling event on or around August 6, 2022. He was not granted TPS until 2023 after applying, with a reapplication in 2024. He was released in 2022 under prior administration policies. Questions about prior contacts or possible involvement in another case were addressed as part of an active, ongoing investigation.
Walker reiterated that law enforcement will work closely with state authorities to ensure Joachin faces full justice in the criminal case before any immigration proceedings, with the goal of removing him from the United States permanently.
The joint briefing highlighted Florida’s robust 287(g) partnerships, with 325 agreements this fiscal year alone leading to over 6,000 arrests — the highest in the nation. Officials expressed pride in daily cooperation with sheriffs, police chiefs, and local partners to maintain community safety.
This case has drawn attention to broader immigration enforcement priorities under the Trump Administration, aimed at restoring law and order and enforcing laws enacted by Congress.