President Donald Trump on Thursday evening posted disturbing surveillance footage on Truth Social showing the fatal hammer attack on a gas station clerk in Fort Myers, using the graphic video to criticize former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies and renew his calls to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians.
The attack occurred on April 2 outside a Chevron gas station and convenience store on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Surveillance video captured 40-year-old Rolbert Joachin smashing the windshield of a car belonging to Nilufa Easmin, a Bangladeshi immigrant and mother of two teenage daughters. When Easmin exited the store, Joachin allegedly approached her and repeatedly struck her in the head with a hammer, killing her, according to Fort Myers police.
Investigators say Joachin and Easmin had a brief prior encounter two days earlier, though she did not know him personally. Joachin was arrested hours later after a coordinated manhunt. He faces charges of second-degree murder and criminal mischief and has been denied bond.
The case gained national attention after the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Joachin is a Haitian national who entered the United States in August 2022. An immigration judge ordered his removal later that year, but he was subsequently granted Temporary Protected Status under the Biden administration. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) assisted in his arrest, and he is expected to be deported to Haiti once the criminal proceedings are resolved.
In his Truth Social post, President Trump shared the graphic video (with a warning about its disturbing content) and described Joachin as an “illegal alien criminal” and “animal.” He directly linked the killing to Biden-era immigration policies, arguing that TPS allowed the suspect to remain in the country despite a prior deportation order. The post is the latest example of Trump using high-profile crimes involving noncitizens to push for stricter border enforcement and mass deportations.
We strongly condemn this brutal and senseless act of violence. The horrific actions of one individual do not represent the Haitian community as a whole, nor do they define any other immigrant group.
Our deepest condolences go out to Nilufa Easmin’s family, especially her two teenage daughters, and the entire Bangladeshi community grieving this heartbreaking loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragedy.
This case remains under active investigation by Fort Myers police. Additional details are expected to emerge as the criminal case proceeds.
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