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An undocumented immigrant from Haiti, initially detained and later released by the Biden administration in 2022, has been arrested following a brutal incident that took place in Fort Myers, Florida. The suspect, Rolbert Joachim, 40, is accused of fatally attacking a woman with a hammer outside a gas station in broad daylight.
According to records from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Joachim faces charges of second-degree murder and criminal damage to property. The violent act was captured on surveillance footage, which reportedly shows Joachim shattering the windshield of the woman’s car before approaching her and delivering fatal blows to her head with a hammer.
The victim, whose name has not yet been disclosed to the public, was reportedly employed as a store clerk at the gas station where the attack occurred. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been involved in the investigation, highlighting the alarming nature of the crime.
This tragic event has raised questions about the policies regarding immigration enforcement and the monitoring of individuals released after detention. The suspect, Rolbert Joachim, remains in custody as legal proceedings continue.
Rolbert Joachim is charged with murder in connection with the Florida killing. (Lee County Sheriff’s Office)
She was also the mother of two teenage daughters, according to a report from local outlet Gulf Coast News.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) assisted the Fort Myers Police Department in tracking down and arresting Joachim on Mango Street in Fort Myers.
Joachim first entered the U.S. in August 2022 and was released into the country under the Biden administration, according to DHS.
Rolbert Joachim is allegedly pictured in surveillance footage on the day of the Florida killing. (Fort Myers Police Department)
A federal judge issued a final order of removal against him later that year, but he was granted Temporary Protected Status — which expired in 2024.
“This illegal alien barbarically hit this woman in the head multiple times with a hammer,” DHS acting assistant secretary Lauren Bis wrote in a statement. “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.”
Rolbert Joachim being arrested after allegedly killing a Florida mother with a hammer. (Fort Myers Police Department)
ICE has lodged a detainer against Joachim, and he will be deported regardless of the outcome of the case.
“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,” Bis said.