Haitian Illegal With Deport Order Accused in Brutal Hammer Killing

Joachin first smashed the victim’s car windshield with the hammer, then approached her as she came outside and repeatedly struck her in the head, leaving her to die in the parking lot.

Fort Myers Police quickly identified Joachin and requested assistance from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to locate and arrest him.

He was taken into custody later that day on Mango Street with ICE’s help and is being held without bond.

Detectives say Joachin confessed to the crime, admitting he went to the gas station specifically to kill the clerk.

He reportedly wore the same clothes the victim had seen him in two days earlier so she would recognize him, then intentionally damaged her car to lure her outside.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Joachin first entered the U.S. in August 2022 and was released into the country under the Biden administration.

A federal immigration judge issued a final order of removal against him later that year.

Despite the deportation order, the Biden administration granted him Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which expired in 2024.

DHS placed an immigration detainer on Joachin, and officials stated he will be deported regardless of the criminal case outcome.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier called the murder “horrific” and “preventable,” blaming failures to enforce the existing removal order.

The victim, Yasmin, was a devoted mother of two teenage daughters who co-workers and family described as kind, respectful, and always hardworking.

She had just stepped outside after morning prayers when the unprovoked attack occurred.

A memorial with flowers and candles has grown outside the gas station as the local Bangladeshi community mourns her loss.

Joachin was reportedly known to Fort Myers police and is also a suspect in another ongoing investigation.

The daylight hammer attack has left residents questioning how someone with a final deportation order remained free in the community.

Conservatives have pointed to this case as another preventable tragedy resulting from lax border policies, catch-and-release practices, and the use of TPS to shield individuals from removal.

DHS stated bluntly that “this illegal alien barbarically hit this woman in the head multiple times with a hammer” and that the Biden administration released him into the country before granting him temporary protections.

The swift collaboration between local police and ICE led to Joachin’s arrest within hours, demonstrating what effective enforcement partnerships can achieve.

However, it cannot undo the devastating loss for Yasmin’s two daughters and her grieving family.

Fundraisers have been launched to support the victim’s children, who now face life without their mother.

Joachin appeared in court on Wednesday, where detectives detailed his confession and his targeting of the victim.

He was read his Miranda rights in Creole and reportedly understood them, sometimes responding in English.

The State Attorney’s Office confirmed Joachin is in the country illegally from Haiti.

This incident adds to growing concerns about crimes committed by individuals who benefited from policies that prioritized releases over strict immigration enforcement.

Fort Myers Police Chief Jason Fields praised his officers and federal partners for using every resource, including aviation and K-9 units, to track down the suspect.

Community members expressed sadness not only for the Bangladeshi community but for all residents affected by rising violence.

The brutal, targeted nature of the killing — captured clearly on video — has shocked the area and sparked renewed calls for stronger border security.

As the criminal case proceeds in Lee County courts, ICE will pursue Joachin’s removal after he faces justice.

Yasmin’s brother has requested privacy for the family during this difficult time.