A Haitian man, who had been arrested and subsequently released by the Biden administration in 2022, was taken into custody again on Friday. He’s suspected of murdering his mother with a hammer in broad daylight at a gas station in Fort Myers, Florida.
Lorbert Joachim, 40, faces charges of second-degree murder and criminal damage to property, as indicated by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office records.
Surveillance footage from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reportedly captures Joachim smashing the windshield of his mother’s car before brutally attacking her with a hammer, ultimately leading to her death.
The victim’s identity hasn’t been disclosed yet, but she was known to work at the gas station and was also the mother of two teenage daughters, according to local reports.
The Fort Myers Police Department received assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in locating and apprehending Joachim on Mango Street.
As per DHS, Joachim originally entered the U.S. in August 2022 and was released under the Biden administration’s policies.
A federal judge later issued a final removal order against him, but he received temporary protected status, which is set to expire in 2024.
“This illegal alien savagely struck the woman in the head multiple times with a hammer,” said Lauren Biss, acting assistant secretary of DHS. “This heinous murderer was released into the country by the Biden administration. Their reckless immigration policies cost this woman her life.”
ICE has moved to detain Joachim, and he is expected to be deported regardless of the legal proceedings.
Biss emphasized the collaboration between ICE and local authorities, noting, “The arrest of this criminal showcases how we can work together to bring offenders to justice and enhance community safety.”
