A Florida gas station clerk was brutally murdered last week, the victim of a calculated and horrific attack with a hammer. Rolbert Joachin, 40, originally from Haiti, now faces murder and property damage charges in connection with the death.
The victim has been identified as Nilufa Easmin, a woman known to her community as Yasmin. She was a devoted mother working to support her two young daughters, and her life was tragically cut short while on the job in Fort Myers.
Police arrested Joachin on April 2nd after investigators determined he intentionally targeted Easmin. Disturbing surveillance footage revealed he first smashed the windshield of her car, luring her outside before repeatedly striking her with a hammer in broad daylight.
Authorities say Joachin entered the United States in 2022, arriving by boat near Key West. He was initially taken into ICE detention and a final order for his removal was issued shortly after.
However, a temporary reprieve was granted in 2023 when the Biden administration extended Temporary Protected Status to individuals from Haiti. That status later expired, and was subsequently revoked, leaving Joachin vulnerable to deportation.
Investigators report that Joachin confessed to deliberately going to the Chevron gas station with the intent to kill Easmin. He even wore the same clothing he had worn two days prior, hoping she would recognize him.
The attack has sparked outrage and grief, prompting a community to rally around Easmin’s daughters. An online fundraiser, organized by the Bangladesh Association of Southwest Florida, has already raised over $13,000 to help cover their basic needs.
Organizers of the fundraiser emphasize Easmin’s unwavering dedication to her children. They hope the community’s support will honor her memory and provide a future for the daughters she so fiercely loved.
Police are also investigating Joachin’s potential involvement in another, unrelated case, though details remain scarce. The months-long investigation continues to unfold as the community grapples with this senseless loss.
