Accused Fort Myers gas station clerk killer said he targeted victim, also suspect in another case

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Rolbert Joachin, the man accused of killing a Fort Myers gas station clerk with a hammer last week, appeared in court on Wednesday and revealed he went to the gas station specifically to kill the victim, detectives said.

According to notes from Gulf Coast News reporter Jackie Guenther, who is at Joachin's pretrial detention motion hearing, Joachin gave a detailed confession to detectives following his arrest.

Joachin reportedly admitted that he went to the Chevron gas station on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard specifically to kill a gas station clerk, who was identified as Nilufa Easmin, also known as Yasmin.

Detective Laner Rodriguez, the lead investigator with the Fort Myers Police Department in the homicide case, testified as a witness.

Joachin told detectives he wore the same clothes that Yasmin had seen him in two days earlier so that she would recognize him, court notes said. He then said he intentionally smashed her car with a hammer so that she would come outside.

Surveillance video from the store captured the attack. In the video, Joachin reportedly smashed a car windshield. The surveillance video then shows the clerk coming outside. Joachin then approaches the victim and is accused of hitting her in the head with the hammer, killing her.

Rodriguez said Joachin was read his Miranda rights in Creole and appeared to understand them. At times, Joachin answered questions in English, though Rodriguez occasionally spoke to him in Creole.

Joachin was reportedly known to Fort Myers police. Detectives also revealed that Joachin is a suspect in another case they have been working on for months. The specific case was not revealed.

The State Attorney's Office also noted that Joachin is in the country legally, as he is on temporary protected status, after DHS reported his status had expired in 2024.

No ICE hold was placed on Joachin, but he will stay in jail until he faces trial, and will be held without bond, according to court notes.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.