Man accused of killing Fort Myers gas station clerk pleads not guilty

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

Rolbert Joachin, the man accused of killing a Fort Myers gas station clerk with a hammer on April 2, has pleaded not guilty.

>>Video above: Archive footage from April 8

According to court documents, the public defender representing Joachin submitted the written plea of not guilty on Monday.

Joachin, 40, faces charges of homicide and criminal property damage.

Joachin appeared in court on April 8, where a Fort Myers police detective testified that Joachin had admitted he intentionally targeted the victim in the killing.

The case has garnered national attention, as President Trump posted about the killing on his Truth Social account, calling it "One of the most vicious things you will ever see."

Joachin also had his temporary protected status stripped from him by the Trump administration on April 9. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that Joachin entered the country illegally in 2022, but was allowed to stay in the country on TPS.

Previous coverage:

• Accused Fort Myers gas station clerk killer said he targeted victim, is also suspect in another case
• Timeline details shifting accounts of suspect's immigration status in Fort Myers gas station killing
• ICE reveals detailed past of man accused of killing Fort Myers store clerk in news conference
• Trump reacts on Truth Social to brutal Fort Myers killing of a woman with a hammer
• Fort Myers community mourns mother killed in gas station attack

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