Fort Myers hammer attack in Florida: Bangladeshi Woman Killed, Suspect Arrested. A Bangladeshi woman was killed in a brutal hammer attack outside a convenience store in Fort Myers, an incident that has shocked the local community and Bangladeshi diaspora across the United States.
The victim, Yasmin Chowdhury, 48, was working at the D&D Convenience Store on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard when the attack took place early Thursday morning, April 2. She had opened the store shortly before the incident as part of her routine shift.
According to investigators, a 40-year-old man later identified as Rolbert Joachin arrived at the store carrying a hammer and began striking the locked door, demanding to be let inside.
When he failed to gain entry, he turned to a vehicle parked outside and began smashing its windows with the hammer.
Surveillance footage shows the suspect repeatedly attacking the vehicle. As the situation escalated, Yasmin stepped outside to assess the damage and confront him.
At that moment, the suspect immediately struck her in the head with the hammer. She collapsed to the ground, and the attacker continued hitting her multiple times before leaving the scene.
Police say she died at the scene from severe head injuries.
Another employee, a Spanish-speaking coworker, was inside the store during the attack and later provided a description of the incident to the store owner.
According to store owner Arif Ahmed Ashraf, the suspect had visited the store a few days earlier and attempted to withdraw money from an ATM. After entering the wrong PIN, he became angry and verbally abused the victim before being calmed by staff.
The same man reportedly returned early Thursday morning and was seen searching for the victim before the attack.
Officers from the Fort Myers Police Department responded shortly after receiving reports of an assault. When they arrived, they found Yasmin outside the store with critical injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The attack triggered a major police response, including a manhunt for the suspect. Nearby neighborhoods were searched, and several schools in the area were briefly placed on lockdown as a precaution.
Authorities later located and arrested Joachin about a mile from the store. He was taken into custody without incident and has been charged with homicide and criminal mischief. He is currently being held at the Lee County Jail.
Police have not yet released a motive, and the investigation remains ongoing.
A video of the assault, recorded on surveillance cameras, has circulated widely online, showing the suspect damaging a vehicle before attacking the victim.
Yasmin Chowdhury, 48, was originally from Kushakhali Union in Chandraganj upazila of Lakshmipur, Bangladesh. She had been living in Fort Myers with her two daughters following her separation from her husband. Her daughters are currently university students. She had recently moved from Miami and had been working at the store for about six months.
She was the sister of Salah Uddin Manik, chairman of Kushakhali Union Parishad in Lakshmipur.
Community members described her as a familiar and hardworking presence at the store. Her family in Lakshmipur has been left devastated by the incident, while local residents in Fort Myers expressed shock over the violence.
Authorities say the case remains under active investigation.
Fort Myers Hammer Attack Case Summary
Victim: Yasmin Chowdhury, 48, Bangladeshi convenience store worker from Lakshmipur, Bangladesh
Suspect: Rolbert Joachin, 40, accused in the hammer attack and charged with homicide
Place: D&D Convenience Store, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida
Date: Thursday, April 2, around 7:30 a.m. local time
Police station: Fort Myers Police Department
Timeline of Fort Myers Hammer Attack Case
>> Background (prior to incident)
Yasmin Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi woman from Kushakhali Union in Lakshmipur, had been living in Fort Myers, Florida, with her two daughters after separating from her husband. She had recently moved from Miami and was working at the D&D Convenience Store for about six months.
She was the sister of Salah Uddin Manik, chairman of Kushakhali Union Parishad in Lakshmipur.
>>Previous interaction with suspect (days before attack)
According to the store owner, a man later identified as Rolbert Joachin had visited the store earlier and attempted to withdraw money from an ATM. After entering an incorrect PIN, he became agitated and verbally abused Nilufar before leaving. Staff de-escalated the situation at that time.
>> April 2, 2026 – early morning (~7:30 a.m.)
Nilufar opened the D&D Convenience Store on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Fort Myers, as part of her routine shift. She had locked the store from inside and was performing her early morning prayers when the situation began.
>> Initial attack on property
Rolbert Joachin arrived at the store carrying a hammer. He began striking the locked entrance door, attempting to force entry while demanding access.
Escalation outside the store
After failing to enter, he moved to a parked vehicle outside the store and began smashing its windows repeatedly with the hammer.
>> Moment of confrontation
As Nilufar stepped outside to assess the damage and confront the attacker, she asked what was happening.
>> Fatal assault
The suspect immediately struck her in the head with the hammer. She collapsed to the ground. He continued hitting her multiple times before leaving the scene.
>> Death at the scene
Nilufar sustained severe head injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after officers arrived.
>> Police response
Officers from the Fort Myers Police Department arrived quickly after emergency calls reporting an assault. They found Nilufar outside the store with fatal injuries.
>> Video evidence
Surveillance footage shows the suspect damaging a vehicle before attacking Nilufar. The video later circulated widely on social media.
>> Manhunt and disruption
A search operation was launched across nearby neighborhoods. Several local schools were placed under precautionary lockdown during the search.
>> Arrest
Police later located and arrested Rolbert Joachin about a mile from the scene. He was taken into custody without incident.
>> Charges and custody
He was charged with homicide and criminal mischief and is currently held at Lee County Jail.
>> Ongoing investigation
Authorities have not publicly confirmed a motive. The investigation remains active.
Fort Myers hammer attack in Florida: Bangladeshi Woman Killed, Suspect Arrested
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