JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – An 18-year-old woman has been arrested and charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old man during an attempted home invasion robbery in Jacksonville Beach.
Ezekiel Archuleta, of Jacksonville, died after he was shot Sept. 21 at a home on Penman Road North at 12th Avenue. Officers dispatched to a burglary in progress found the victim in the front yards with gunshot wounds. He died at a hospital.
Jacksonville Beach police announced the arrest of Samantha Wiener on Wednesday.
A text message from Wiener is what Beth Archuleta believes led to her son’s death.
“Zeke had saved a text message from Samantha showing proof that she was soliciting him to do a robbery,” Beth Archuleta said.
Ezekiel Archuleta and the man linked to his death both had romantic involvement with Weiner, according to Archuleta’s mother. Weiner is accused of soliciting Ezekiel Archuleta and another person to rob her ex-boyfriend’s home off Penman Road on Sept. 21.
“At some point after they arrived at the residence is when the homeowner felt threatened and shot and killed him,” Jacksonville Beach Police Commander, Mark Evans said.
“Trying to say that my son tried to break and enter is incorrect. There was no proof of a weapon, there was no glove, there was no mask. My son was in a white, brand new hoodie,” Beth Archuleta said.
Beth Archuleta said her son only went to the house out of curiosity. She feels the homeowner knew he was coming to the house.
“Yes. I think he absolutely knew. That’s why he climbed up on his roof and waited for him,” Beth Archuleta said.
Police told News4Jax they didn’t have any evidence of that.
If it wasn’t for Weiner’s text message, Beth Archuleta feels her son may still be alive.
“You killed the wrong guy. He had so much to offer to this world,” Beth Archuleta said.
Weiner is charged with second-degree felony murder and solicitation to commit robbery. Her ex-boyfriend was arrested for armed drug possession, but he has not been charged in Ezekiel Archuleta’s death.
Jacksonville Beach Police say this is an active an ongoing investigation.